March is Red Cross Month at the Santa Monica Pier

Published on February 27, 2024

The Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel will be lit red on Friday, March 1 in recognition of March is Red Cross Month 2024.

The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region is kicking off its annual Red Cross Month celebration in March to honor local community heroes who help ensure their neighbors never face crises alone. Join the Red Cross at dusk, on Friday, March 1, 2024, as we kick off March is Red Cross Month with Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier’s iconic Pacific Wheel illuminating with the Red Cross symbol.

Red Cross Month is a national tradition that began in March 1943 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation — and each U.S. president has followed ever since.

“During Red Cross Month, we are proud to honor the people in our community who step up to support one another when help can’t wait during emergencies,” said Joanne Nowlin, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region. “This relief and hope wouldn’t be possible without these local heroes. Please consider joining in their commitment by donating, volunteering, giving blood or platelets, or taking a lifesaving skills course.”

Join the Red Cross Month celebration by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation, give blood or platelets, become a volunteer or take a lifesaving skills course. Those who donate at redcross.org/givingday on March 27 will be part of the 10th annual Red Cross Giving Day, which aims to rally 30,000 supporters nationwide to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.

As we approach the final weeks of winter, the public is urged to book a time to donate blood or platelets now as we continue to strengthen the blood supply heading into spring. Much like pets provide comfort and support, so does the Red Cross in local communities. As a thank-you for providing comfort during Red Cross Month, all who come to give blood or platelets March 1-24 will get a $10 e-gift card to a pet supply merchant of choice, plus automatically be entered for a chance to win a $3,000 gift card. There will be five winners. See rcblood.org/Pets for details.

HELP CAN’T WAIT WHEN EMERGENCIES STRIKE Volunteers comprise 90% of the national Red Cross workforce to power its lifesaving mission, along with generous blood, platelet and financial donors; people trained in skills like first aid and CPR; and other supporters. Below are some of the ways that people from the Los Angeles community have delivered relief with the Red Cross in times of crisis:

• Volunteers like Ken Takata, blood transportation specialist, who ensure lifesaving blood and blood products are delivered to hospitals throughout Southern California when they are needed most.
• Volunteers like Doug Derrick, Red Cross CPR certified and trained, neighborly hero who provided lifesaving intervention when he discovered his neighbor was ill and in medical shock.
• Volunteers like Carmela Burke who delivered compassion and care following the Hawaii Wildfires as a disaster relief responder. In the growing face of the climate crisis, Carmela continues to roll up her sleeves adding on to her already more than 70 disaster deployments.

JOIN A REWARDING DAY OF GIVING BACK Home fires are the most frequent disaster response for the Red Cross, which is also working to help families stay safe by installing free smoke alarms during its Sound the Alarm home fire safety events in at-risk communities. Volunteers are needed for our upcoming events— register and learn more at soundthealarm.org/losangeles.

Sound the Alarm, Inglewood

March 9, 2024

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sound the Alarm, North Hills

March 23, 2024

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sound the Alarm, Lynwood and South Gate

March 30, 2024

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

 

This special lighting event will take place on the evening of Friday, March 1. The Ferris wheel lights can be seen from dusk until 11:35 PM each evening. Enjoy watching the light program online at pacpark.com/live.

WHAT:
Special Lighting of the Pacific Wheel for March is Red Cross Month 2024

WHEN:
Friday, March 1
dusk (around 6 – 7 PM) to midnight

WHERE:
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

 

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

About the Pacific Wheel at Pacific Park

Watch nightly light programs on the Pacific Wheel. Pacific Park’s Santa Monica Pier cams stream live video 24/7 from the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. Located at the end of Route 66 next to Venice Beach and the historical Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, CA, the Pier’s webcams offer a glimpse from one of the most celebrated beaches in the world. Pacific Park is the amusement park on the Pier and home to LA’s iconic Pacific Wheel. The Ferris wheel’s 174,000 LEDs illuminate the Los Angeles coastline nightly with fun light shows that feature seasonal colors, fun animations, and messages.

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Feature image courtesy of @pacpark