Frequently Asked Questions About
The American Red Cross
What does the American Red Cross do? The
American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, which
provided relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and
respond to emergencies. It does this
through services that are consistent with its Congressional Charter and the
Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement.
The
American Red Cross also is the foremost volunteer emergency service
organization in the United States, with more than 800 chapters nationwide, 38
Blood Services regions, 18 Tissue Services centers, plus hundreds of field
stations on U.S. military installations around the world.
When and how did the Red Cross get started in the United
States? After
serving on one of the first humanitarian missions of the International
Committee of the Red Cross, Clara Barton founded the American Association of
the Red Cross on May 21, 1881. A
volunteer who cared for soldiers during the Civil War, she became deeply
committed to ensuring that the U.S. government ratified the Geneva Convention
of 1864 and to establishing an organization in the United States that would
help alleviate human suffering.
How many people work for the American Red Cross?
There
are 32,262 paid staff members and 1.39 million volunteers nationwide.
Is the Red Cross a U.S. government agency? No. The Red Cross is a private, nonprofit human
service organization. It functions
independently of government but works closely with the government during times
of major crises, particularly in wartime and during major disasters. In 1900, the U.S. Congress chartered the
American Red Cross to provide services to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and
to disaster victims at home and abroad.
Operating under a revised 1905 charter, the Red Cross continues to
provide these mandatory services.
What organizations comprise the International Red Cross
Movement? The
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a phrase that symbolizes
the unity of all Red Cross work carried out by the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC); the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies; 170 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around
the world, including the American Red Cross; and the Magen David Adom in
Israel.
Is the Red Crescent connected to the Red Cross?
Yes. Although the red cross is not a religious
symbol, the symbol of the red crescent is used instead of the red cross by
national societies in most Islamic countries.
Both Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies comprise the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
In how many countries is the Red Cross present?
There
are 170 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and the Magen David Adom in
Israel. Additionally, there are 110
operational international Red Cross delegations carrying out humanitarian
missions in areas of disaster, armed conflict, or civil disturbance around the
world.
How is the American Red Cross funded?
The
Red Cross depends on the charitable contributions of the American people. In addition to seeking individual donations,
the Red Cross receives fees for some of its services, participates in the
United Way and Combined Federal Campaign, and solicits funds from
corporations. The Red Cross also
receives reimbursements and grants on occasion from local, state, and federal
government agencies for specific projects.
How much of the money the Red Cross spends is used to help
people? Ninety-two cents of every dollar spent goes to programs
and services to help those in need. The
real value of every donated dollar becomes magnified by the fact that over 97%
of American Red Cross staff is volunteers.
How can I make a donation to the Red Cross? Individuals
wishing to donate to the Red Cross may send a check to the Greater Kalamazoo
Area Chapter of the Red Cross at 5640 Venture Court, Kalamazoo, MI 49009-1860 or to the American Red Cross,
P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C.
20013. Also, donors may call
1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) to charge a financial contribution to the
American Red Cross on a credit card.
Who Runs the American Red Cross?
Volunteer
leaders at both the national and the local levels set Red Cross policy. Local volunteers help determine Red Cross
services and programs, basing the decisions on community needs. Paid and volunteer staff at the national
level help support local Red Cross activities.
An all-volunteer Board Of Governors sets national Red Cross policies
under which chapters across the country operate.
Who are American Red Cross volunteers?
American
Red Cross volunteers—more than a million strong—come from all walks of life,
ages, and backgrounds. Red Cross
volunteers assume a variety of leadership positions within the organization,
from the all-volunteer Board of Governors, which sets policy for the
organization, to the individual who teaches first aid at the community blood
drive, or provides comfort to families affected by a disaster. Whatever their volunteer job, their goal is to
make their community a better place to live.
How do people volunteer to help carry out Red Cross
disaster relief activities in the U.S. and overseas? People
who wish to volunteer should contact their local Red Cross chapter because the
vast majority of volunteer opportunities are typically found within an
individual’s local community.
International disaster relief workers are drawn from a pool of paid and
volunteer staff with extensive prior experience. In addition to disaster relief activities, there are a wide
variety of volunteer opportunities at the Red Cross supporting all of he
organization’s services.
What‘s the difference between the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross? The
Red Cross is a nonprofit voluntary organization that responds to disasters
regardless of their size and scope; FEMA is a federal government agency that
helps in those disasters that receive presidential declarations. For example, in 1995 the Red Cross responded
to more than 63,000 disasters nationwide; FEMA responded to 31 disasters.
Some
of FEMA’s work involves community recovery, such as rebuilding bridges, roads,
and public buildings. The Red Cross
provides assistance to meet individual humanitarian needs. Also, under the federal response plan, the
Red Cross And FEMA have separate responsibilities. The Red Cross is responsible for “mass care”—providing food,
shelter, bulk distribution of disaster relief supplies, first aid, and disaster
welfare information. FEMA is directly
responsible for “information and planning” and “urban search and rescue” and
the overall coordination of any activities conducted under the federal response
plan.
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