S. M. Businesses Stage Percent Day Today To Benefit Red Cross

Mirror Staff

   Nearly two dozen Santa Monica businesses are donating up to five percent of their receipts today to the Red Cross of Santa Monica. 
   Carrie Polsky, regional marketing director for Wild Oats Community Market, and Fred Demi, owner of Back on Broadway and Back on the Beach restaurants, are co-chairing Percent Day. 
   Capping the campaign, the local band Viscount will perform at O’Briens Irish Pub and Restaurant on Main Street tonight. O’Briens will donate the $5 cover charge and a portion of beverage sales to the Red Cross. 
   The group is fronted by singer Tom Viscount who recently released a CD, “My Name Is Nobody.” Viscount will be joined on stage by Frankie Blue, who co-produced Viscount’s CD and has been nominated for an Emmy for his work on the new TV series, VIP. 
   Not coincidentally, Viscount is Emergency Services Director for the American Red Cross in Santa Monica and gives disaster preparedness instruction courses. 
   Funds raised on Percent Day will underwrite Red Cross programs and services, such as disaster relief preparedness, first aid and CPR training, international tracing services for people serving in the armed forces and programs for local youth. 
   Businesses participating in Percent Day include the 17th Street Cafe, Allan Jeffries Painting, Anastasia’s Asylum, Back on Broadway and Back on the Beach, the Box Brothers, Earth, Wind and Flour, El Cholo, Gagnier’s Restaurant, Hargrave & Hargrave, AAC, Insta-Tune, Patton’s Pharmacy, Quigley & Miron, CPAs, Renaissance Skin Care, Santa Monica Bank, Spitfire Grill, Standard Brands Paper, Wildflour Pizza, Wild Oats and ZJ Boarding House.