x-avier.livejournal.comLast night, the Gypsy Banquet Hall in Washington, D.C. was alight with man-made fireworks. Not the traditional kind of fireworks, not this time. Jeremy Hirsch, the man responsible for the fireworks, is what is commonly referred to as a mutant. His differentness manifests as the ability to project small, brightly coloured bursts of light from his hands. Mr Hirsch was one of many entertainers at last night's gala affair, put on by the American Red Cross as a fundraiser for their new initiative, Red X.
Red X is a volunteer disaster relief corps with a twist. All of the volunteers are mutants and the program is specifically designed at utilizing mutant gifts to aid people in need. Those attending last night's affair shelled out $5,000 a plate in order to support this new program and the event drew a diverse group of guests; everyone from CEOs to foreign dignitaries to Hollywood headliners.
Not everyone was so happy about the Red Cross' liberal tendencies, though, as protestors surrounded the entrance, holding up picket signs and chanting, "Muties go home!" The protest remained peaceful, though, and a Red Cross spokesperson said that while the organization respects people's right to their opinion, the mission of the Red Cross is to help all people, and to give all people a chance to make a difference.
At the end of the night, when the guests did finally go home, the Red Cross estimates that the event raised more than $50,000 in support of their cause both in the evening's profits and donations made by guests during the course of the night. The money will be directed toward further training, education, and outreach for the Red X program.
--Sonja Bartlet, Daily Bugle