The American Red Cross

American Red Cross has been viewed as the nation’s elite humanitarian organization, dedicating themselves to aiding people in need throughout the United States. The American affiliation has also held a joint association with the global Red Cross and Red Crescent networks throughout the world. They are highly dependent on the contributions of American public volunteers time, blood, and money to help support their lifesaving services and programs. All volunteers and employees, alongside the generous donors share a mission of preventing and relieving suffering, not just in the United States but around the world. According to RedCross.org they do this through five key service areas:

Disaster Recovery

Support America’s Military families

Life Saving Blood

Health and Safety Services

International Services

On May 21st of 1881, Clara Barton and a group of her associates founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. Barton was first introduced to the idea from the Swiss-inspired global Red Cross network in Europe, following the Civil War. After returning home, she began to campaign for the American Red Cross and for the ratification of the Geneva Convention. This proposal, the Geneva Treaty, was signed shortly after by President James Garfield’s successor after his assassination, Chester Arthur. It was ratified by the Senate in 1882, to protect the people that have been injured in the war. Additionally, Barton was able to successfully campaign for the inclusion of peacetime relief work, as part of the global Red Cross network, considered the “American Amendment” (redcross.org). Red Cross received their first two congressional charters in 1900 and the second in 1905, a year after Barton had resigned from the organization. For 23 years ...

... middle of paper ...

... countries. Not even McDonalds can say that as an organization.” Their vision statement can attest to this unique factor of what they have been able to and continue to provide for people all across the world. From RedCross.org the vision statement stated,

“The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that…all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope; our communities are ready and prepared for disasters; everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort wherever needed; and in an emergency there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives.”