Red Heart partners with Red Cross for StitchAHug initiative
- 19 Jan 2016
Everyday, disasters damage or destroy homes across North America. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires – catastrophe strikes in all shapes and sizes and Red Cross responds. To help support these relief efforts, Red Heart is partnering with the nonprofit organizations to directly affect the lives of those who experience devastation and catastrophe.
As an American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program member, Red Heart is donating $250,000 this year to support Red Cross societies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. These dollars help provide emergency shelter, water, food, first aid and other vital disaster relief services.
Alyson Bell, Vice President of Marketing, Red Heart – the brand voted America’s most recommended yarn brand in 2015 and 2016 by the Women’s Choice Award, said: 'Red Heart has woven its way into homes for 80 years, creating a beautifully rich history and inspiring joy in every knitter or crocheter. Red Cross’ roots run even deeper, responding in times of crisis when it was needed most. We’re proud to collaborate with this worthwhile organisation and show our Red Heart customers how they can turn their handiwork into good works.'
As part of the campaign – which launches in early 2016 – Red Heart and Red Cross will ask consumers to #StitchAHug for someone in need. Whether crafting a Red Heart Cares Blanket for a disaster victim or as a gift to an individual in need of comfort, both organizations offer this call-to-action in the year ahead.
Gail McGovern, American Red Cross President and CEO, said: 'The American Red Cross relies on the generosity of our volunteers, donors and partners to fulfill our lifesaving mission. Thanks to the support of Red Heart and other Disaster Responder Program members, the Red Cross can immediately respond to the needs of people affected by disasters whenever and wherever they strike.'
Annually, the Red Cross spends approximately $330 million to aid communities impacted by nearly 70,000 domestic disasters. Globally, an additional $45 million assists those affects by disasters and humanitarian crises.
Alyson Bell, noting a statistic that six in ten created a project for charity in 2014, added: 'Knitters and crocheters are a considerably charitable group. Our Red Heart consumers love the joy of making and the joy of giving, creating something special, handmade and long-lasting.
'We aim to unite these artistically-gifted, generous consumers with Red Cross and prepare now to bring hope to victims of tragedies that unfortunately lie ahead.'
ENDS
To download a high resolution image go to: www.coats.com/imagelibrary
For more information contact:
Kristina Blissett, Head of Communications kristina.blissett@coats.com
T +44 (0)208 210 5084, M +44 (0)7714 539887
Notes to Editors
About Red Heart
Red Heart is proud to be America’s favorite yarn and one of the most trusted brands in yarn. For over 75 years, more people have chosen to make their heirlooms using Red Heart than any other yarn. Red Heart yarns stand for quality, largest color selection, fashion and above all else, crafted with love. Whatever your creativity calls for, you’ll find it in the Red Heart family. Explore our free patterns and vast yarn selection for every level of knitter or crocheter – they have a little bit of love woven into every strand. www.redheart.com
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About Coats
With a rich heritage dating back to the 1750s, Coats is the world's leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, at home in more than 70 countries, employing over 20,000 people across six continents. Revenues in 2014 were US$1.7bn.
Our well-known brands and strong relationships with customers and consumers mean our products and services meet current and future needs. Our company-wide understanding of our business partners and consumers, coupled with the deep expertise of our people, builds trust and certainty.
Coats’ pioneering history and innovative culture ensure the company continues leading the way around the world: providing complementary and value added products and services to the apparel and footwear industries; extending the crafts offer into new markets and online; and applying innovative techniques to develop products in new areas such as tracer threads, aramids and fibre optics.
- One in five garments on the planet is held together using Coats’ thread
- More than 100 million car airbags are made using Coats’ thread every year
- Coats produces enough yarn to knit 70 million scarves a year
- Every three hours Coats makes enough thread to go to the moon and back
- More than 450 million pairs of shoes are made every year using Coats’ thread
- In 1879 Thomas Edison used Coats’ thread in his experiments to invent the light bulb
- Every week over one billion teabags are brewed using Coats’ thread
- Coats produces enough thread to reach around the Equator every ten minutes
- Thousands of surgical operations take place every day using Coats’ thread
- Coats is the second largest and fastest growing global zip manufacturer