Introduction Throughout the semester, I have been able to volunteer for the American Red Cross Disaster Services Team. This has been one of the most beneficial volunteer opportunities that I have ever accomplished. As an American Red Cross of Georgia Major Gift Officer, this volunteer experience allowed me to gain knowledge in a department that serves as the backbone of the American Red Cross. As a nonprofit fundraiser, it is difficult to truly see the mission that your team raises money for every single day. Fundraisers at the American Red Cross are trained as “sales people,” and before this volunteer experience I had never even been on a Red Cross disaster response call. Throughout the duration of the semester, I was able to gain true insight into the core of the organization and mission. This opportunity allowed me to not only enhance my career at the American Red Cross, but gave me a 360-degree view of the entire organization and the fundamentals of the Red Cross mission.
Red Cross Mission and History The American Red Cross exists to provide compassionate care to those in need primarily during times of disaster. The American Red Cross mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors (American Red Cross). The organization focuses on five key service areas:
1. People affected by disasters in America
2. Support for members of the military and their families
3. Blood
For decades, America has fought in many different wars with the need of health assistance for their soldiers. The American Red Cross is a worldwide organization that helped during the times of war but also provided a path for scientific advancements. Through the American Red Cross and other organizations of this time, they opened up the doors for women to take the chance to advance in the medical field by participating in scientific experiments and being at the aide of wounded soldiers. During this time of scrutiny, the Great War was a hidden opportunity for the encroachment of medical research with the contribution to the expansion of nursing.
Imagine being a soldier during the revolutionary war. There is no one to help you, and there is no doctors to save your life. Since the American Red Cross was founded, the organization has helped millions of people ranging from war to natural disasters.. The American Red Cross provides a range of services in the United States by giving emergency assistance, blood, disaster relief, and education. Also, the Red Cross feeds the volunteers, helps families contact each other, provides blood to disaster victims, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources. Their mission is empowering ordinary people to perform extraordinary
The American Red Cross organizations main focus is recruiting blood donors and volunteers; this is very clear from the first click on their website-a pop up window asking for the reader’s zip code in order to find a donation site near them. The tabs up at the top labeled with large print are inferred to be their most valued ideas. Below each of those tabs is a list of resources related to those individual tabs that help better define their purpose. The American Red Cross website uses the all three of the main types of rhetoric-pathos, ethos, and logos-in a way that benefits their organization and successfully grasps their audience.
Whether it is a local flood or a national disaster, there is always one organization there to help, the American Red Cross. Each year the organization turns down no one in need, benefits 70,000 people in disaster relief, along with saving three lives every time a person donates blood. The American Red Cross has evolved through the years and is still known as one of the most important nonprofit organizations in the world.
The American Red Cross is an important entity in the world today. In fact, the organization was created over 100 years ago and has done nothing but grow. This is an organization that went from caring for wounded soldiers to being the guiding spirit of many families when disaster of any kind strikes. The American Red Cross must be strong and organized to handle such a large role. Unfortunately, they are usually not strong or organized.
Undoubtedly, the American Red Cross has done many wonders over the course of its existence. Whether it is providing relief from disasters, aiding the less fortunate nationally and internationally or saving lives with their blood program, the Red Cross has always been there to help the world become a safer place to live in. Most recently, this organization has had a strong impact in the recovery of “Superstorm” Sandy and Hurricane Isaac, providing food and water, multiple shelters for people that have lost their homes and even counseling during such a devastating time (“Top 20 Accomplishments”).
The American Red Cross is a non for profit, congressionally chartered organization. Its primary focus is to give help anywhere that is needed both here and abroad. The American Red Cross uses its resources, time, and money to help five major areas, which are aiding people affected by disasters in American, supporting members in the military and their families, collecting blood for process and distribution, health and safety education and training, and international relief and development (American Red Cross). The Mission Statement of the American Red Cross is “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors” (American Red Cross).
The American Red Cross is a major organization in the United States and around the world. Clara Barton founded the American chapter in 1881. She was a public servant who decided to get involved during the civil war by attending to wounded soldiers and feeding them on the battlefield. Her sense of humanitarian work was only strengthened by her trip to Europe during the Franco Prussian war, where she discovered the initiative of Henri Dunant (Reitman, 1996). After the battle of Solfinero, this Swiss banker was shocked by the carnage of war and decided to gather doctors and volunteers around the village to help tend to the wounded. This action motivated him to create a nonpartisan organization that can focus on caring for people wounded in wars and conflicts regardless of their origin. (Reitman, 1996). The organization was ratified in the 1864 Geneva Convention by twelve countries and later by many others. The United States Red Cross was founded due to the efforts of Barton in Washington (Reitman, 1996). The first chapter of the national American Red Cross was created in upstate New York. Later, the organization received funding to create its national headquarters in Washington. Since then, the Red Cross has benefited form a close relationship with Washington as it was created by congressional charter more than a century ago and plays a
The organization works independently assisting people without discrimination, with the want only to help prevent human suffering, protecting life, teaching, and preparing for emergencies (American Red Cross, 2017). In addition to providing client services at disaster scenes, the Red Cross handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area. In addition, Red Cross volunteers deliver snacks and drinks to emergency responders, including firefighters and police, (American Red Cross,
American Red Cross is a non-profit organization that works for the betterment of human life by providing food, shelter and assistance to the victims of several disasters; hence, the implication of the section 501 (c) (3) has a significant impact on the services offered by American Red Cross as it selects the organizations that qualify for tax exemption.
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides significant help to those in need. The organization is a branch of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The organization’s initial goals were to provide humanitarian efforts and other relief during trying times. For example, many felt that the group was formed in response to the destruction caused by the American Civil War. Founder and the group’s first President, Clara Barton, believed that America should be prepared for future catastrophes, but there was widespread doubt that the nation would ever again experience anything as disastrous as the Civil War. Nonetheless, the organization was formed on
The Volunteer Involvement Mission of the American Red Cross was to improve the quality of human life, enhance self-reliance and the concern for others. (Oster221) Also, it was to help the people avoid, prepare for and cope with emergencies. (Oster221) The American Red Cross Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement was in figure D-3 Humanity, Impartially, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Services, Unity, and Universality.
The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies through six key areas; disaster relief, lifesaving blood, training and certification, supporting America’s military families, and international services. The American Red Cross has both a mission statement, which defines their objectives and approach, and also a vision statement, which defines their vision and future goals. The mission statement of the American Red Cross reads “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The American Red Cross’ vision statement reads “The American Red Cross, through its
American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that is congressionally mandated for providing aid to victims of disaster. It is also responsible for fulfilling the necessary requirements of Geneva Convention within United
In the United States, Red Cross provides assistance with 70,000 disasters a year, from fires, to hurricanes, to earthquakes. Red Cross is not a government agency however provides resources such as shelters, food, and mental health and works with other governmental or nongovernmental organizations to help provide relief after disasters occurs (What We Do | Red Cross | Disaster Relief, Emergency Management, n.d.). The Red Cross stepped in shortly to provide disaster relief services such as emergency services, food, shelter, and ongoing emotional support to the families and individuals in need (Press Release: Alabama Red Cross Responds to Tornadoes and Severe Weather, 2011).