On May 21st, National American Red Cross Founders Day marks the anniversary of the American Red Cross.
The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton in 1881 after learning about and being inspired by the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland, established in 1863.
It now serves as the official US branch of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
In 1869, Clara Barton went to Europe and was involved in the work of the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War. She was determined to bring the
organization to America and did so in May 1881. She became president of the American branch of the society known as the American National Red Cross in Washington D.C.
The very first chapters opened in Dansville, New York where she had connections to help get it started. John D. Rockefeller and four others donated money to help
create a national headquarters near the White House. Frederick Douglas, the abolitionist and friend of Barton, offered advice and support to help establish the American
chapter of the Red Cross. He also signed the original articles of incorporation for the American Red Cross.
The organization has rendered service after many major disasters which include the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Flood on May 31, 1889 in which over 2,209 people died and
thousands more injured. Other disasters include the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, World War I, the Spanish Flu in 1918, World War II, the attack on the Twin
Towers on September 11, 2001, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the wildfires in Maui in 2023, just to name a few.
As of April 2023, the American Red Cross has scored four out of four stars in the Charity Navigator and an A- at the Charity Watch.
On May 21st, National American Red Cross Founders Day marks the anniversary of the American Red Cross.
The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton in 1881 after learning about and being inspired by the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland, established in 1863.
It now serves as the official US branch of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
In 1869, Clara Barton went to Europe and was involved in the work of the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War. She was determined to bring the
organization to America and did so in May 1881. She became president of the American branch of the society known as the American National Red Cross in Washington D.C.
The very first chapters opened in Dansville, New York where she had connections to help get it started. John D. Rockefeller and four others donated money to help
create a national headquarters near the White House. Frederick Douglas, the abolitionist and friend of Barton, offered advice and support to help establish the American
chapter of the Red Cross. He also signed the original articles of incorporation for the American Red Cross.
The organization has rendered service after many major disasters which include the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Flood on May 31, 1889 in which over 2,209 people died and
thousands more injured. Other disasters include the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, World War I, the Spanish Flu in 1918, World War II, the attack on the Twin
Towers on September 11, 2001, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the wildfires in Maui in 2023, just to name a few.
As of April 2023, the American Red Cross has scored four out of four stars in the Charity Navigator and an A- at the Charity Watch.