CHATTANOOGA, Tenn – The 13th annual American Red Cross Heroes fundraising event will be held virtually on November 19, with Chattanooga native and Emmy Award-winning actor Leslie Jordan as the guest speaker.

The event works to raise awareness for the service of people who provide humanitarian and emergency aid in the Southeast Tennessee area.

“In the last year, we have responded to more than 250 area house fires, as well as the tornadoes that ravaged our area this past April,” Executive Director Julia Wright said in a news release. “The Red Cross was there delivering vital aid – including financial assistance, emergency shelter kits, hygiene items, blankets and clean up supplies…all in the midst of dealing with COVID 19. We collected 616 units of blood at our local Red Cross blood drives, which continues to support our urgent need for emergency blood as well as providing vital anti-body testing to help with research that may lead to a cure.”

Jordan is set to be the guest speaker and WRCB’s Cindy Sexton will emcee.