Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 24, 1944
Caption:
Red Cross Moves Ahead White space is gradually being swallowed up by the impressive "$" signs as Lassie and Laddie both work busily today chalking up their 40th sign representing the $80,274 now credited to the Red Cross War Fund total. Laddie Ann Arbor has an edge on Lassie County today as the city of Ann Arbor moved ahead of the outside county and Laddie added two mor "$" signs, making a total of 27, while Lassie County finished up her 13th "$" sign. Ann Arbor is now credited with $53,858, or 87.5 of its $61,500 quota, while the county outside Ann Arbor has collected $26,416, or 85.2 of its $31,000 quota. Lassie and Laddie are working up a little competition to see who gets to fill in the rest of the white space, and how they will come out depends entirely upon the people of Ann Arbor and the county. Pick your favorite and give to the Red Cross!

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 25, 1944
Caption:
Getting Near The End! Laddie Ann Arbor and Lassie County are really getting to the interesting part of their work these days. And that part is to see which of them will be the first to markup his last "$" sign for the regular quota and start on extras. The race is as close as any good race should be with Laddie Ann Arbor a trifle ahead on a percentage basis. The little boy now has chalked up 92.6 per cent of the 31 "$" signs he hopes to have marked in early next week. His friendly competitor has marked in 89 per cent of the 15 1/2 signs she must draw before her quota is reached. Today's markings show two more "$" signs in the rapidly-filling cross and the figure represented is $84,563.79. Of that amount, $56,947.47 has come from Ann Arbor contributors while $27,616.32 represents out-county solicitations.

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 27, 1944
Caption:
It's A Close Race! Lassie County is a happy girl today as she chalks up another "$" sign for the Red Cross showing that the county has added $1,655 toward its Red Cross quota and has moved ahead of the city with 94.4 per cent of its $31,000 quota already on hand. Laddie Ann Arbor didn't do so well today, because the city donated only $693 toward the drive over the week-end, and to date has contributed only 83.8 per cent of its $61,500 quota. The grand total for Washtenaw county of $92,500 is not far from sigh however, as figures show that 93.9 per cent, or $86,911 has already been collected. The next few days will tell the story--whether Ann Arbor or the county will finish its quota first, and whether the Red Cross will be assured of the money it needs to carry on its work among servicemen and civilians alike. Lassie and Laddie are anxious to know how the race will end, and the people of the city and county are the ones who can help. Make your Red Cross donation today!

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 10, 1944
Caption:
Watch The Dollars Roll In! Now Ann Arbor's generous response to the Red Cross' call for funds is beginning really to show up in the official returns. Today Laddie Ann ARbor, with a total of $21,140 reported form the city, marked up his tenth "$: sign on the recording Cross, and started on his eleventh. Each "$" sign represents $2,000. Lassie County had another restful day, as the returns from outside the city are still slow in coming into headquarters although donations are officially reported to be liberal. Today collections officially reported from all Wshtenaw county totalled $24,587 which is 26 per cent of the county quota. Ann Arbor is more than one-third of the way to its goal of $61,500.

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 11, 1944
Caption:
Red Cross Dollars are coming faster and faster as the drive for Washtenaw county's $92,500 quota nears the end of the second week. Ann Arbor today boosted reported contributions from $21,140 to $26,543. So Laddie Ann Arbor could grin joyously as he finished marking up 13 "$" sign symbolizing $2,000. Lassie County watched him enviously, but it was whispered that her turn would come soon, as the towns and rural districts outside the city begin to send in their reports. The Washtenaw total is now $30,519. We of Washtenaw county are going to do ourselves proud in this Red Cross Fund campaign as we have in other patriotic drives. Everyone in the county will want to have a share in our justifiably prideful satisfaction. The way isopen to all. Just give to the Red Cross and give with a generous heart.

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 7, 1944
Caption:
"Am I doing it right?" asks a new Lassie County of Laddie Ann Arbor, as the little boy and girl added part of a "$" sign to their Cross today. As each "$" sign symbolizes $2,000 added to the Red Cross fund, the children were unable to complete their signs today as only $770 was added to the county total and only $1,601.55 to the city total. Lassie County is now credited with $2,770 for her fund, and Laddie Ann Arbor has $10,575.15, for a grand county total of $13,345.15. The little girl playing the part of Lassie County today is not the same little girl who has taken the part during the past week, as some quick-eyed citizens may have noticed. The original Lassie County got so anxious to fill in "$" signs she broke out in a rash. Doctors called it "chicekpox", and so a young friend has stepped into her role temporarily. The original little girl will be back in a week or so, and she is anxiously hoping that by then citizens of the county will have collected enough money for the Red Cross so that she will be kept busy filling in "$" signs. Her young substitute is hoping that she too will have a lot of work to keep her busy, and Laddie Ann Arbor is asking Ann Arbor citizens to give him a job to do.

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 20, 1944
Caption:
Washtenaw county's Red Cross fund hit a total of $67,199 today. That puts us 72 per cent on the way to our goal of $92,500. We've got to come strong to reach our quota by the end of the month as most of our big "special gifts" are already in. The original Lassie County came back on the job today after her battle with chicken pox. And was she tickled to see what a splendid job her cute co-lassie had done in her absence! And gleeful to have a chance to get busy herslef marking up more "$" signs, each representing $2,000. Today's total for the county outside Ann Arbor stood at $21,090 of the$31,000 quota. That leaves Lassie County five "$" signs yet to go before she can mark up "extras." Laddie Ann Arbor has marked up 23 "$" signs, representing $46,109, leaving him a little more than eight to go before filling in his share of the Cross. Let's keep Laddie Ann Arbor and Lassie County busy this week! With a hard push now and a gathering up of all ready and willing Dollars we can finish up this Red Cross job in a hurry!

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 3, 1944
Caption:
Ann Arbor is asked to give $61,500 to the Red Cross fund in the drive now on; Washtenaw county outside the city is asked to give $31,000--a county total of $92,500. Unofficial reports form the army of solicitors that went into action on Wednesday are that the people approached are giving eagerly and generously. They want to have a real share in the great work of the Red Cross. They want to feel that they are active parts of the Red Cross. But while unofficial reports show that the drive is "going strong," official reports are slow in coming in. Perhaps that's because the solicitors have been so busy gathering in contributions they haven't taken time to send them to headquarters. When these official reports really begin to come in, watch the "$" sign on the Cross begin to multiply. Each "$" sign on the Cross stand for $2,000 turned into headquarters. Thus far Ann ARbor is officially credited with $7,092, so the lad representing the city chalks up a fourth "$" sign. He still has27 to go to reach Ann Arbor's quota of $61,500. The lassie is still waiting anxiously for official returns from Ypsilanti, Milan, Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, Whitmore Lake, Manchester, Bridgewater, and the rural districts of the county. She's alert to mark them down quickly when they come. Washtenaw county is going to fill that Cross with "$" signs. Watch 'em grow!

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 22, 1944
Caption:
Lassie's Day To Smile Well, Lassie County could chuckle gleefully at Laddie Ann Arbor today. She went ahead of him in filling her proportionate share of theCross that symbolizes Washtenaw county's contributions to the Red Cross. Her share is 15 1/2 "$" sings, each "$" representing $2,000. On today's report of $25,574 from the county outside Ann Arbor, she marked up her 12th "$" sign, and nearly finished her 13th. She has 2 3/4 "$'s" yet to go to reach her quota of 15 1/2, representing $31,000. Today's report put the towns and rural districts outside Ann arbor 82.5 per cent on their way toward their goal. Laddie Ann Arbor was bit rueful as he watched Lassie County edge ahead on a percentage basis, yet glad that she at last could get busy on the "$" signs. He finished his 25th "$" as reports showed a city total of $50,331, which is 81.8 per cent of its $61,500 quota. Now the race is getting wrm. Come on Ann Arbor! Come on, you other towns and rural districts! Which will finish first--Lassie County or Laddie Ann Arbor?

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, April 1, 1944
Caption:
Well, That Job Is Done! Well, we of Washtenaw county have done it again! We have put over our Red Cross drive in a really big way. Today the audited county total stood at $114,544. That's $22,044, or 23 per cent, beyond our quota of $92,500. And the returns are not yet all in although the campaign closed officailly last midnight. And here are Laddie Ann Arbor and the two Lassies County--who have helped to spur on Givers and Workers by marking up day by day the returns from city and outlying towns and rural districts--to join happily in the celebration as they finish their job. Laddie Ann Arbor has marked up 35 1/2 "$" signs, each representing $2,000 for a total of $70,976. That's $9,476 or 15 per cent beyond the city's $61,500 quota. The two Lassies County--the Original Lassie, and the second Lassie County who took the place of the Original Lassie when the latter was kept at home by an untimely attack of chicken pox--have marked up 22 "$" signs, for a total of $43,568, which puts the county outside Ann Arbor $12,568, or 40 per cent beyond its quota of $31,000. The News is appreciative of the eager, smiling, and very real help that has been given by the three six-year old kiddies, all of the First Grade, Perry school. Laddie Ann Arbor is Campbell Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Smith, 430 Cross St. Original Lassie County (at the right( is Saundra Wares, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter P. Wares, 1026 Green St. The second Lassie County is Sue Pierce, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin C. Pierce, 327 South Division St. Perry school authorities and parents were most co-operative in making their service available.