Emily Ratliff with Claire's Army: Giving Tuesday

Bo and Beth welcome Emily Ratliff to highlight Claire's Army on this Giving Tuesday.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
You Live seven thirty seven on WBT on this Tuesday,
December second, better known as Giving Tuesday at Black Friday
and then Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and in recent

(00:21):
years really the rise of Giving Tuesday. And what a
great idea, right.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh, this is the best. This is the best day
because giving, I promise you, is going to make you
feel better than anything you do this season.

Speaker 1 (00:33):
We have great plans for Giving Tuesday. We're going to
talk next hour. We just confirmed that our buddy Brandon
from dream On three will be MCing the dream monthly
dream On three gala coming up in January.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
This is our third fourth is it our fourth year together?
My third year, third year together?

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Because you did it before me, but this is our
third year, the two of us doing it.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
I drag you into everything.

Speaker 1 (00:56):
Well, speaking of dragging you into things, I think you
know who Claire's Army is. And Emily Ratliffe on the
line right now, Beth has emceed their gala, which is
every year in August. Claire's Army. You know, Claire's Army.
I've been talking about Claire's Army for over a decade now.
Claire's Army strives to act as God's hands and feet
for families fighting childhood cancer by supporting their daily responsibilities,

(01:18):
allowing them to put time and focus on their child.
And Emily and Kevin Ratliffe know this very well because
that is what they experienced when their daughter Claire back
in twenty twelve was in the hospital and Claire passed away.
But Claire's legacy has become Claire's Army, and now Emily
and Kevin and the entire organization support other families that

(01:41):
are going through various issues with their children being in
the hospital for various reasons. Let's bring on Emily Ratliffe.
She's no stranger to this show. But on Giving Tuesday,
we got to talk to Emily and see what's going
on with Claire's Army. Hi, Emily, Hey, Boie's back in
the morning.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
Good morning, How are you.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
I'm good?

Speaker 3 (02:00):
How are you guys?

Speaker 1 (02:01):
I know you're good because you sent me a note
that you actually got to go to that Panthers game
on Sunday. What a game. That was your first game,
you and your family's first game. And I said, well
you did that one right, Yeah, I.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
Mean I was not let down. And my voice is
still recovering because I would like to think that I
contributed to the noise level that was at Bank of
America's city in that day because it was really just
an unreal experience all around. So I kind of set
the bar high to start with my first experience on
a day like Sunday.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
Well, and you know the Panthers organization really well, you
know people like Jonathan Stewart and Luke Keikley. I mean
I could go on and on with people who have
contributed to the Gala that happens every year in August,
and that is the biggest event that you all have
each year. And we talk about that and like I said,
mc it and all that great stuff that we can
do to support it. But it's not the only thing

(02:54):
that Claire's Army does. In fact, that Gala sort of
fuels the whole year of the activities that go on
and so on. Giving Tuesday, I always like to a
touch base with you because people can find out more
about the organization on a day that spotlights organizations like this,
but you can give us a little idea as to
what needs you have right now in December and what
things might be going on that people can get involved in.

Speaker 3 (03:18):
So number one we are so grateful to ever have
a chance to speak of his radio family that is
continued to show up and just be so gracious to
Claire's Army. You know, we help families like right now today,
you know, we help raise money to help them tomorrow,
but the funds that we raise are helping someone in

(03:40):
the middle of what they're facing right now. It's hotted cancer,
and it might be their first time facing it, it
might be their second time, it might be their fourth
or fifth year that they've been in treatment. And so
that's probably the one thing I want to really drive
home for whether it's people who know about us or
just are learning, is that the things we do are
helping every day needs for families while they're facing cancer

(04:03):
for their child right now. So that's helping with utility bills,
that's covering rent and mortgage, it's helping even you know,
as of late with so much that was going on
with food and security. That that's something we help with
all year long, but it really was amplified these last
couple of months. So whether it's with our meal program
serving dinners to families in the hospital, or even just

(04:27):
providing real time grocery gift cards so that families can
you know, shop for the groceries they need or even
a bout subscriptions they need. So it's really helping families
in the moment right now, so they don't have to
wait on help when they need it.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
Well, as people are allocating their dollars and thinking about
giving today and they're hearing your voice right now, how
can they give to Claire's Army?

Speaker 3 (04:52):
So the easiest ways on our website Claire's Army dot
o RG. You can give any amount. Every single amount helps.
You can become a monthly donor and give a little
bit every month, or make a one time gift and
there are several ways to give and every amount helps
in different ways. But you know, fifty dollars by the
grocery gift card for someone who is really struggling to

(05:16):
put food on the table. And you know, just this
past month, we covered over fourteen thousand dollars worth of
just you know, rent and utilities assistants on behalf of
eight families. And like I said, that's real time and
some of those families might need to help again this month.
So you know, we're we're looking to raise close to
fifteen thousand dollars on this Giving Tuesday, in this Giving

(05:37):
Tuesday week that will help families right now this month
as they face child to cancer. Like you said, the
Gala fuels so much of what we do all year long,
but you know, we really have to ask for funds
all year long to make sure that families have the
help they need. Twenty four to seven, three sixty five.

Speaker 1 (05:56):
Well, like you said, it's Giving Tuesday, and today is
an important day to not only raise money for organizations
like Claire's Army, but to put it on people's radar
to begin with. You know, that's the thing I like
about It's kind of a dual nature of today. Yes,
you want to give on Giving Tuesday, but awareness is
an important thing too, and so that's what we're trying
to do. And so, like Emily said, C L A

(06:19):
I R E. S Army dot O or G learn
more about the organization and what you can do every
month of the year, but especially today, Emily. Good to
hear your voice and thanks for calling in.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
Thank you boy, thank you Bat