Make Sept. 15 Casual Day
by Meredith Keymel

September 15, 2006 may have been a "Casual Day," but do not mistake it for an ordinary one. With citizens and employees of local businesses all over Cortland County wearing specially designed T-shirts in support of their local American Red Cross, the day was anything but ordinary.

This idea of a countywide "dress down day" came from Joanne Cleary, Cortlandville resident and owner/operator of Pudgie's Pizza in Cortland. As a member of the community and as someone who has needed services provided by the American Red Cross, Cleary understood the importance of helping an organization, whose main concern is helping others.

Because the American Red Cross is a non-profit organization, funding comes from the United Way, private donations, grants and fundraisers. With this money, the Red Cross can help disaster victims with food, clothing, and shelter, as well as people who are in jeopardy of having their utilities shut off. The Red Cross is also able to provide an answering service to those in the military and their families, so they can get in touch with one another. Other programs the Red Cross provides include CPR/first aid classes and scholarships for children who cannot afford swim lessons. Instead of watching all of these wonderful services vanish from Cortland County, which was a real possibility when the local chapter was low on funds, Cleary stepped in and took action.

She went around to local businesses asking them to sponsor the Make Sept. 15 Casual Day event. The response was overwhelming. With 2,500 shirts sold at $10 each, the event raised $25,000. Those proceeds went directly and in full, to the Cortland County American Red Cross, a tremendous help to the chapter.

We want to thank Joanne Cleary, commend her on being a leader in the community and congratulate her on her success. We would also like to thank those who purchased T-shirts in support of Make Sept. 15 Casual Day, as well as the following sponsors:

• Pudgie's Pizza
• Kinney Drugs
• Graph-Tex
• Action Auto
• Contento's Demolition Co.
• FARME Institute
• Tropical Sun Tanning Salon
• Plaza Discount Liquors
• Sam's Auto Sales
• Cinquanti Real Estate
• Aftermarket Effects
• Marietta
• Leach's Custom Trash
• Hage Real Estate
• Community Restaurant
• Mollie Riley Interiors
• Seven Valley Realty
• Cortland Ford
• Greek Peak Ski Resort
• Ames Linen Service
• Yaman Real Estate
• Economy Paving Co. Inc.
• American Auto LTC.
• First Niagara
• Happy Auto Detailing
• Olde Homer House
• Homer Men & Boys
• Garcia's Mexican Restaurant
• Premier Property Service
• Cortland County
• Cortland Regional Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
• Chamber of Commerce