Show r red lied feather flown as symbol in social service fund drives badge Is beacon of hope to sick weary Har homeless neless for centuries he aed x ed feather has been ace accepted apted as A a badge of courage and and generosity robin hood awarded red rd feathers to nis followers for heroic and generous deeds outstanding indian braves often were tb the e recipe befits of red feather awards for i feats of valor and acts of kindness this year in cities throughout the united states the red feather will mean hope tor for the sick homeless and friendless community chests of the country have adopted the red feather to designate services to orphans the aged the blind crippled children and the sick in previous years the welfare fund raising organizations from coast to coast have been known by a variety of names and their symbols have been m many 1 any and varied in 1946 for the first time practically all of them are known as community chests and all fly the red feather many blany join movement last year cities in the country raised close to a quarter billion dollars through community fund raising campaigns these cities each conducted a single campaign to raise funds to support multiple welfare agencies it was in cleveland ohio that the community chest plan was born in 1913 A group of cleveland business men aware of the many fund drives held each year and of the vast sums spent annually to raise money for welfare purposes evolved a plan to budget the cites welfare needs and to hold one campaign annually to obtain the money to meet these needs before cleveland held the first community chest campaign persons were contributing money tor for welfare purposes during the 1945 community chest campaign residents of greater cleveland made pledges to support home front agencies and 22 units of 0 the national war fund support agencies this year the cleveland community chest is campaigning in m october for a goal of proceeds will be used tor for the support of red feather agencies including 21 youth and recreation groups 19 organizations aiding dependent children 17 hospitals 14 family famili welfare vel services and other welfare organizations throughout the nation the story of the red feather is being told as community chests wage their annual fundraising fund raising campaigns in october chicago which has the largest community chest fund in the nation has a goal of in the current drive from community chest coffers will come 50 per cent 7 0 av V fg S 4 THEY NEED HELPING HAND typical of the millions of children throughout the united states who receive aid through red feather agencies supported by community chests are these youngsters from cleveland top left a poignant appeal tor for aid is mirrored in the face ace of 0 virginia at goodrich house top right jimmie patient at rose kose biary home for crippled children is overcoming the crippling effects of spastic paralysis bottom lillian resident at cleveland christian home orphanage gives dolly the kind of care the home gives her right 5 acar old jerry Is going to walk some day thanks to treatment he Is receiving at cleveland rehabilitation center ot of the operating costs ot of red feather agencies an additional is sought to continue USO activities for the final year one of the main objectives of 0 community chests Is to assure a good start in life for all children red feather youth agencies universally strive to prepare the boys and girls ot of today for their responsibilities as citizens of tomorrow to carry out this objective philadelphia for or example will allot the largest percentage of its campaign funds more than 20 per cent to its red feather youth recreation services and another 11 per cent to its child care agencies last year the cites 39 red feather youth agencies served more than boys and girls and provi provided aed days in camps returns near peak As the birthplace of the community chest idea cleveland has attained one of the best records in the nation for its annual fund drive total goal of the past 27 community chest campaigns there was ot of which or per cent actually was raised in cleveland community chest hospitals contain two thirds of all the cites public and private hospit al capacity their dispensaries dispensa ries annually give approximately free or low cost treatments all of the maternity homes tor for unwed mothers are chest supported institutional tut ional care of 1125 cleveland orphans is given only by chest agencies and children are under foster home care through chest auspices A high degree ot of operation cooperation co is essential to success of the community chest drive that sort ot of operation cooperation co is characteristic of Clev elands annual fund raising event solicitation of chest pledges is carried out by a corps of volunteer workers city officials authorize decoration 0 of downtown thoroughfares the transit system and railroads permit campaign advertising ver stores feature window displays stressing the work of chest agencies radio stations newspapers and theaters tell the story of the red feather organizations for the sick and troubled of cleveland as well as those of other cities in the united states the red feather this year means hope for the greater number of persons who wear the red feather as community chest contributors the brighter the outlook for those who need a helping hand band |