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March is Red Cross Month!

AMERICAN RED CROSS ENCOURAGES LEGACY OF SERVICE

Red Cross Month Highlights History and Service of Humanitarian Mission

March 3, 2006—President George W. Bush has officially proclaimed March 2006 Red Cross Month. As

the organization readies to celebrate 125 years of service, its important role in communities across

the Northeast is more vital than ever.

“Over the past year, the American Red Cross has experienced one of its busiest and most

challenging times. It began with the South Asia tsunami, the largest international disaster response

ever mounted by the Red Cross, and ended with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma – combined disasters

of epic proportions,” according to Executive Director Nancy M. Blaschak. “But what few people know is that our

local Red Cross chapters—more than 800 of them, responded to a record number of local disasters across the

country last year—nearly 73,000. Most of them were fires. All this combined to make 2005 the most

demanding year the Red Cross has ever experienced.”

Those numbers are impressive, but what is truly inspiring is that nearly all of this work was done by volunteers. 

Close to a quarter of a million trained Red Cross disaster workers were involved in the hurricane season response

alone—and more than 95 percent of them were volunteers.

As the same time, from coast to coast, Americans responded to the life saving need for blood. Thirty-five Red Cross

blood service regions provided millions of blood products for patients in need.

“Just as a home is more than a building, the American Red Cross is more than just an organization. The true strength

of the Red Cross is in the people who make it up, almost all of them volunteers,” said Blaschak.

“There are so many ways to become involved with the Red Cross and assist in making the community a better place

in which to live and work. During the month of March, particularly in this historic year, consider donating some time,

making a financial contribution or giving the gift of blood.”

To find out more, call 1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, or visit redcross.org.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of more than 800 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1.2 million volunteers and 32,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation, and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.