American Red Cross Teams up with Children’s Mental Health Nonprofit During September National Preparedness and Children’s Emotional Wellness Months

The children’s mental health and emotional wellness nonprofit Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF) donated 96 Piggie BEAR (Building Emotional Awareness & Resilience) toolkits to the American Red Cross of Southern California today. The donations will be distributed throughout the Red Cross of Southern California’s four chapters (Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Imperial Counties) for young children displaced by home fires or other disasters. Designed to provide comfort and help children learn emotions in a fun and engaging way, the toolkits include the “Power of the Piggie Bear” book (English and Spanish versions and a plush toy in a Piggie Bear carrying bag. Held at the Santa Ana headquarters of the Red Cross Orange County, the donation and first-time partnership kicks off both September National Preparedness Month and Children’s Emotional Wellness Month marked by the two Orange County-based nonprofit organizations.

The donation ceremony included:

Becky Firey, Executive Director, The American Red Cross of Orange County; David R. Engwall, Board Chair, The Red Cross of Orange County; Mara James, Founder/CEO, Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF); Diego Sanchez, Legislative Affairs Intern, Office of Vicente Sarmiento, Second District Supervisor, County of Orange and the Piggie Bear mascot!

For more information, visit Extraordinary Lives Foundation​ or the Red Cross of Southern California.

Red Cross OC Board Chair David R. Engwall, and Executive Director Becky Firey joined by Extraordinary Lives Foundation Founder/CEOPhoto byExtraordinary Lives Foundation