Chapter Announces 2015 Gala Chair, Vice Chair

Maria Triplett, left, and Erin Rasinen, right, will lead the 2015 Wrapped in Red Gala steering committee.

The results are in from the 4^th Annual Wrapped in Red Gala and Red Lounge. The Louisville Area Chapter’s signature event raised $157,000 for community disaster programs through sponsorships, ticket sales and auction purchases. Thanks to our 2014 Chair Randy Blevins, Vice Chair Maria Triplett, the Wrapped in Red steering committee and volunteers who donated their time and expertise to make the event a success!

Louisville Area Chapter Board Member and 2014 Gala Vice Chair Maria Triplett will be leading the 2015 Gala. Maria is President and Owner of TSI Paving—a family owned and operated business providing services in the areas of pavement maintenance, storm water drainage repairs and sanitary sewer repairs for residential, commercial and industrial clients. In addition to her service on the Louisville Area Chapter Board of Directors, Maria is a member of the National Association of Women in Construction and the Executive Womens Golf Association.

Maria will be joined by Vice Chair Erin Rasinen who has chaired the Gala design and décor committee for the past four years. Erin began her career with Messer Construction in 2004. In 2012, Erin was promoted to senior management at Messer and is now a partner in the firm. She is involved in many industry and community organizations, and serves on the board of directors for the Louisville Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction, the Kentuckiana-Post of the Society of American Military Engineers, the Sacred Heart Academy Alumnae Association and Kentucky Derby Festival.

If you are interested in serving on the Wrapped in Red Gala planning committee, becoming a Wrapped in Red sponsor or donating an auction item, please contact Amber Youngblood at (502) 561-3711 or Amber.Youngblood@redcross.org.

More on the Wrapped in Red Gala

Local creative ideas raise $ for Japan

Friends Ina Miller, Andrew Wood, and Jordan Daly (pictured here with Red Crosser Lisa Grider) stopped by the Red Cross on Tuesday to turn in money donated by their friends.

Last Saturday night, hundreds of Red Cross supporters gathered at the Louisville Marriott Downtown to dance, mingle and celebrate the Red Cross mission. Little did they know another party in honor of Red Cross was going on in St. Matthews.

Under the glow of the Supermoon, Jordan Daly and his roommates threw an “80’s Spring Break” themed party as a last huzzah before moving into a new place. At the suggestion of his friend Ina Miller, the party became a fundraiser for the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief fund. By requesting donations from the parties 40+ attendants, the group was able to raise $250.


Local organizations are also doing their part to help raise money for relief efforts. The Greater Louisville Regional Japanese Saturday School (GLRJSS) used their creativity to start “Cranes of Hope.” The cranes are constructed using the Japanese paper art form Origami and sold for $1 a piece.

CORRECTION: The Louisville Orchestra has partnered with GLRJSS to host a free concert with suggested donations benefiting the relief fund. The concert takes place Saturday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2825 Lexington Road, in Louisville. GLRJSS will host pre-concert activities beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more info and directions, visit the event website.

Thanks to these groups and everyone else who has donated to the relief efforts! Check out this release for the latest on Red Cross efforts in Japan.

Chef Challenge Menu Revealed

Without further ado, I present to you Chef Railey's final menu for "An Oldham County Dining Adventure." I probably should have posted this after lunch; now my stomach won't stop growling.

Appetizers:
Grilled Vienna & Spam Skewers with Hosin Sauce
Potted Black Bean Patty with Pico de Gallo
Ham Spread Canape with Pineapple Salsa

Soup:
Vichyssoise (Cold Potato Soup)

Salad:
Crunchy Ramen noodle

Entrées:
Salmon & Spinach Souffle with Red Pepper Sauce
Roast Beef wrapped Asparagus with Horseradish Spread & Demi Glace reduction

Served with Duchess Potatoes & Veggies

Dessert:
Krispy Kreme & Devil Food Pudding with Cranberry Sauce

If you haven't made your reservation yet, call the Oldham County Red Cross at 502-222-0308.

Dessert anyone?

Thanksgiving is coming early, and it's even better. For dessert you'll get a helping of cranberry sauce on top of a well known morning treat. DOH! I may have given away too much!

Things are getting fishy.

Who wouldn't be a fan of mermaid endorsed fish? But just in case your tastes stray away from sea creatures, there will be not one, but two main entree choices at this year's Chef Challenge. Last hint posts tomorrow, and we've saved the best for last.

Last Chance

Today is the last day to support your local Red Cross at Tumbleweed Tuesday! Don't miss out on a great opportunity to have fun and give back. Print off the coupon above, present it to your server, and 10% of you bill will be donated to the Louisville Area Chapter. What better excuse for a night out?

. . . or Salad?

How about both! Sure, Ramen in a soup would make more sense, but how much fun would that be? Up next, the main dish. Don't miss it!

Soup . . .

In my house potatoes offer endless possibilities. I bake them, boil them, mash them and yes, I am guilty of frying them, too. Chef Railey will concoct a delicious soup with potatoes and ... well, you'll just have to wait to find out the rest.

Appetizing Appetizer

First off, I would like to apologize for the blurriness. The camera was being a bit temperamental in the dark lighting, but I suppose it just adds to the mystery .... This photo is your first "An Oldham County Dining Adventure" clue. Check back on Monday for a soup-er tip off on your second course.

Introducing Chef Railey

Chef John Railey

Executive Chef at Glen Oaks Country Club
Sullivan University alumni

Railey began his career in cooking 16 years ago in the military, but he also has experience in canned goods, Ramen noodles and other common pantry items having experimented with them as a kid.

Chef Railey on creating the menu for "An Oldham County Dining Adventure":

I’m definitely not afraid to get into the canned goods and potted meats. My dad was a military man as well for 36, 37 years. When I was a kid, he would come home from summer camp with the canned meats, so it was always fun to come home and get rewarded with the leftovers he brought back. We always played with the things that he had. With the military it was always mystery meat, so you sit there and play with whatever was in the package. It may say SPAM, but when you opened it up, it was something green. You don’t know if it had sat there or if it was a vegetable, but you would always make the most of it, and you made a meal out of it.

Even when I was on my own and trying to make ends meet, I can remember one of my first meals of Ramen noodles I thought was so awesome—I melted cheese in it. And I thought I was really cooking then, with Ramen noodles and melted cheese, but I really kicked that up a notch.

I want the challenge to show people that what they have in their pantries they can make a meal out of, and be just as tasteful as going out and spending 30, 40 dollars for a family or for other groceries to bring into the house. I look at this to be fun as well as an educational experience for the individuals that are going to attend the fundraiser.

Be on the lookout for menu hints as we get closer to the event date.

American Red Cross 10% Tuesday!

Every Tuesday throughout the month of July, head to any area Tumbleweed, (that includes our Hoosier neighbors to the North) and 10% of your bill will be donated to the Louisville Area Chapter. Enjoy fresh Tex-Mex with an ice cold drink all while supporting your local Red Cross!

Just print off the coupon pictured above, and bring it in to your nearest Tumbleweed. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your friends!

Check out Tumbleweed’s menu before you head out.

The LAC serves the Kentuckiana community via its main office in Louisville and six service centers in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Great Food, Good Cause

The Louisville Area Chapter Community Emergency Services is hosting the Yellow Ribbon Warriors fund-raising event to benefit the American Red Cross. The event is from 6 to 10 pm June 4 at Bearno’s Pizza, 4105 Dixie HWY.

All you need to do is inform your server that you are there for the Red Cross fundraiser, and a portion of your bill will benefit the Red Cross.

The fundraiser is just one of many events planned during our Heroes Campaign. Make sure to check out our Blog and Facebook in the upcoming weeks for more opportunities to support your local Red Cross chapter :D

The Louisville Area Chapter Call Center provides services to the men and women of our Armed Forces such as helping them return home during a family emergency. Last year the call center responded to over 160,000 military family emergencies--over 1,200 in the Louisville area alone.