It’s Women’s History Month! And to commemorate it, throughout the month the archives will feature images from the collection portraying women and their diverse roles in the organization. Since the founding of the American Red Cross by Clara Barton in 1881, women have played an important part in advancing the organization’s programs and services.

For the first installment, we are featuring images of World War II Red Cross females doing their part for the U.S. military.

Washington, DC 1942—American Red Cross staff preparing to go overseas during World War II. Photo by F. Fusco and E. Johnson

June 1944, Great Britain—Red Cross hospital workers setting out for the beach head. Photo by Gerald Waller

1944, Italy—Red Cross clubmobile worker with coffee and donuts for returning U.S. Army Air Force bombers.  Photo by Ollie Atkins

October 1945, Marville, France—Red Cross Club workers serve troops of the 27^th Chemical Company, after traveling 100 miles by truck to deliver cookies and doughnuts. Photo by Jerry Waller

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Last Wednesday, February 27, marked the third anniversary of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the central coast of Chile, triggering a massive tsunami that destroyed homes, businesses, and lives.

View of the Pacific Ocean from La Pesca, Chile, which was affected by a tsunami three years ago.

A week before the anniversary, I traveled to one of the most hard-hit areas, where the Red Cross is working with communities to not only help them recover from the double disaster, but also to be prepared for future disasters.

Recovery is about more than just rebuilding an area that was affected by a disaster. At its core, it’s about helping people who’ve often lost everything to regain their footing and restart their lives, both physically and emotionally.

During my conversations with locals, I was genuinely moved by their sincerity and eagerness to tell their stories. One of my colleagues remarked how distressing it was for her to assist me with translating some of our conversations, namely my questions about how they survived.

The truth is, asking those questions used to be difficult for me. But the more I’ve talked with people, the more I’ve realized that when they share their stories with me, they are more than just sharing a story; they’re continuing their healing process.

When I met Nelson Valenzuela, an owner of a fish stand off the side of the coastal road running the through Licantén, Chile, he didn’t just take time to sit down and chat with me. He made lunch for our team – the best fish I’ve ever had.

Nelson Valenzuela, a local fisherman from La Pesca, Chile, prepares to grill a Sierra for lunch.

We sat together enjoying our meal while he told us how just three years earlier the same ocean at our backs rose, in three separate waves, to overtake his home and community.

He told us how he was driving back from Santiago early that morning when he felt and saw the road start to wave under him. Three minutes later, he was racing back home but was blocked by rubble so he had to flag down another car to take him home, even though everyone was fleeing from that direction.

“I tried calling my wife and my brother, but nothing was working. We were finally at least able to connect to Argentine radio to hear the tsunami warning. When we came across some police and asked them for information we actually knew more than they did,” Nelson said.

Nelson lost everything short of his life and his family. Prior to the disaster, he had a successful business that afforded him a nice home. But because of the economy, he didn’t trust the banks, so all of his savings were hidden around his home and properties.

He and his family spent 15 days in the hills behind their home, living in tents and cooking with kitchen kits provided by the Red Cross.
“It was extremely traumatizing,” he said. “To have worked so hard, my whole life, and lose it all… I didn’t want to go back there.”

So, he started from scratch in a neighboring town and built his fish stand. Now he spends his days with his children at his side, preparing and selling fish while chatting with neighbors and tourists.

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I hope everyone enjoyed the first episode of Celebrity Apprentice as much as I did! I couldn’t wait to see how all the drama would unfold for our friend Trace Adkins and what would be in store for the American Red Cross and all the charities. It was awesome to see Trace step up as the first project manager and bring home a big win for his team and the Red Cross.

In case you missed it, here’s the upshot of what happened: the celebs got their first project and they had to sell meatballs for charity. The team that raised the most money for the project manager’s charity got the win. The other group had to stick it out in the boardroom with The Donald.

Trace stepped up as head meatball chef, chief fundraiser and project manager for the “Plan B” team, with Lisa Rinna, Penn Jillette, Steven Baldwin, Gary Busey and Dee Synder in support.

In true Red Cross fashion, Trace took an unpredictable situation, stayed focused and turned it into something great. While the competing team decided to open its meatball shop to the public, Trace made a pretty bold move and kept his shop closed and only invite in exclusive donors with big checks. His cast mates were skeptical at first but in the end they had to admit it was a pretty brave move and one that paid off with a win for team “Plan B”.

Brave, but not at all unexpected for a “Red Crosser” like Trace. Every day, in communities around the country Red Cross volunteers face the unexpected and persevere to help those in need. Trace did that too and the $670,000 he raised is going to go a long way to help victims of disasters, large and small.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t say a special thanks to the many donors who help Trace win this challenge. Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet members Amy Grant and Niki Taylor stopped by with checks, as did a rep for philanthropist T. Boone Pickens. But there were many other donors you didn’t see, such as friends at BBDO, Domino Sugar, as well as members of the Nashville community who showed overwhelming support; Grand Ole Opry, Creative Artists Agency, Diamond Coach, Blaster Records, Diamond Gusset Jeans, the firm of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy (FBMM), Kyote Tractor, Music City Merchandise, Nashville Hospitality Industry, Pruf LED Show, Dog-Universal Music, Vector Management. We appreciate their support as well.

We also want you to join in on the fun. You can go to http://play.traceadkins.com/ to see show recaps, play games and win great prizes-all in support of Trace and the Red Cross. I’ll be back in front of the TV on Sunday night again because I’m sure this season has more surprises and plot twists waiting in the wings.

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After the release of the Tornado App this week I started wondering what the Wizard of Oz would be like if we had equipped some of the characters with our smart phone apps…Would the story turn out any differently?

Let’s start with the actual tornado that seemed to cause all this nonsense. Well, technically, if Dorothy had our new Tornado App, she would have known that there was a tornado warning in her area and probably may have had enough time to make it to her basement, or inner hall closet where she would be protected from flying debris.

Next, let’s talk about the Wicked Witch of the West’s sister. If she had taken the preparedness quiz in the Tornado app, she would know that her ruby slippers would not prepare her for the upcoming tornado season (true story, check it out). Maybe she would have survived the house dropping on her. Or better yet, maybe her equally evil sister would have been able to help if she was only using our First Aid App!

Another part of the movie that struck me as being in need of some Red Cross apps was when the Wicked Witch lit the Scarecrow on fire. If she had been using our Wildfire App, she would have known that fire spreads quickly, and that one way to be prepared for an incoming fire is to wet down the area surrounding your house. If she had known this, she probably would have had second thoughts about lighting the Scarecrow on fire and causing her own demise!

And lastly, I think Dorothy may have never needed to go down the Yellow Brick Road if she had just used our “I’m Safe” and “Shelter” features on any of our apps. Her family would have known she was safe, and she would have known they were safe. Additionally, had they been using the apps, they would have known to have an out of town contact and a family emergency plan, so Dorothy wouldn’t have to panic about finding the wizard to find her family!

Visit our Mobile Apps page so you too can have a happy ending!

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Laura Howe is a country music fan and reality tv junkie. In her spare time she works as the VP of Public Relations for the Red Cross.

Here at the American Red Cross, we heart our celebrity spokespeople, and country music star Trace Adkins is busy busy busy! We’re really excited for this weekend when Trace begins his quest to win for the Red Cross on the very first “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice”.

In addition to being a multi-platinum country music singer, Trace is an actor, author, and a passionate member the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.  He joins 13 other business-savvy celebrity contestants to compete with the goal of raising money and awareness for their charity of choice. The last person standing will be chosen as the All-Star Celebrity Apprentice and will have the honor of delivering a $250,000 bonus check to his or her designated charity.

Oh, and if you are wondering just why he’s playing for the Red Cross, it’s pretty simple: Trace’s home burned down last year.  The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters every year and home fires make up the bulk of those.  At the time,  Red Cross volunteers had no idea they were showing up to the home of a country music star, but they were right behind the fire trucks and took care of Trace’s family in the aftermath of the fire.  The gratitude he feels for the Red Cross has led him to become an incredible advocate and spokesman; he wears his Red Cross pin proudly, hoping his support will help the Red Cross be there for others when they need it most.

In the run up to the show, I’ve had a chance to get to know Trace.  As my friends down south are fond of saying “he’s a good ‘ol country boy”.  Like any good Southern gentleman he opens doors for ladies, wears a cowboy hat and wears that “good ol boy” distinction as a badge of honor. He has a heart of gold, he truly embodies the humanitarian spirit of the Red Cross and he’s just a lot of fun to be around too. So, I have no doubt he’s going to be fun to watch this season on Apprentice. I’m pretty sure he’ll give a few city folks a run for their money too.

Trace has told me a number of times how  he’s “in it to win it” for the Red Cross. He’s serious about making it all the way to the end, so I think we’ll all get to see a great Red Cross story, good competition and some great tv along the way.  I hope you’ll join all of us at the Red Cross on Team Trace and cheer for him all season long.

Watch for updates here each week and at http://www.TraceAdkins.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @TraceAdkins.   So for right now, you can put your ear buds back in and go listen to “Ladies Love Country Boys”.  But come Sunday, I hoped you’ll be parked in front of the TV for round one of “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice”^, at 9/8c on NBC.

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MARCH is RED CROSS MONTH

 The tradition of March is Red Cross month started in 1943 during World War II. Prior to that, the Red Cross ran Roll Call campaigns.

Begun during World War I, these fundraising campaigns were done in the fall.

When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, the Red Cross had just completed a successful Roll Call, but the war effort placed additional financial demands on the organization and they immediately implemented a War Fund drive. The War Fund campaign was very successful and by June 1942 had raised $66 million.

The Red Cross canceled its 1942 Roll Call and waited until 1943. After discussions with President Franklin Roosevelt, the honorary chairman of the Red Cross, the whole month of March 1943 was declared “Red Cross Month” and a goal of $125 million was set.

1943–Washington, DC, Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the proclamation naming March the official Red Cross month. 

 In less than six weeks, Red Cross reached the target and by June 1943 donations totaled nearly $146 million. Roosevelt called it the “ . . . greatest single crusade of mercy in all of history.”

Washington, DC, 1961, Feb. 28, 1961—President John F. Kennedy, as honorary chairman of the American Red Cross, launches the annual Red Cross fundraising campaign. 

Throughout the war years and ever since, the Red Cross has continued the tradition of using March as Red Cross Month for its annual fundraising effort.    

2009 Presidential proclamation signed by President Barack Obama declaring March is Red Month.

As part of the tradition, the President customarily issues a proclamation each year declaring March as Red Cross Month! 

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Though a “life-long” (since I was 11 years old) American Red Crosser, I never belonged to a Red Cross Club. My affiliation with the organization during my high school and college years was limited, in part due to my commitment to sports and music, but also because clubs didn’t exist – nor had I any idea that starting clubs was even an option – at my high school or university. I maintained a connection with the organization by keeping my CPR, first aid, and water safety certifications up-to-date and donating blood on a regular basis, but it wasn’t until I became an adult that I learned how much more involved I could have been if Red Cross Clubs had been available to me.

Despite never joining a Red Cross Club, I know quite a bit about them; while employed at the Washtenaw County of the American Red Cross in Ann Arbor, MI, a co-worker and I – with the help of four unbelievably dedicated college students – founded the American Red Cross at the University of Michigan. The process was long and arduous and frustrating, but establishing that Red Cross Club remains one of my greatest professional achievements.

In the coming weeks I’d like to share with you a bit of insight into how Red Cross Clubs positively impact the communities in which they’re located, how you can become a member of a Red Cross Club, and how, if there’s no Red Cross Club available at your high school, college, or university, you can create one yourself. I also plan to share the stories – how they came to be, what their membership looks likes, how they engage with their local communities – of Red Cross Clubs already in existence to help you better understand why these clubs are so important to the future of our organization.

As I begin work on this series, I’d love for you to share – in the comments section below – any questions you have about Red Cross Clubs in general or for the leadership teams of the established Red Cross Clubs. I’ll make sure your questions are answered in one of my posts!

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oh the Oscars. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, they take the world by storm for a few hours every year. It’s an opportunity for Hollywood to honor the best of the best in a seemingly increasing number of categories (or does the show itself just somehow get longer?), and at home we enjoy a compilation of speeches that are given, dresses that are tripped on, and shiny trophies that are handed out.

However, there was a bit of a twist to the Oscars this year. One that wasn’t seen on stage or on the red carpet. It happened backstage. A security officer started to suffer from a seizure. Nope, this wasn’t a quick filming for an upcoming movie, this was really happening.

Charlize Theron happened to be backstage and witnessed the security officer start to fall. Apparently he was taken care of quickly, and medical personnel showed up quickly, but this does present itself for us to have a little conversation about what one might do in this situation.

CHECK – CALL – CARE

Check the scene and check the person
Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
Care for the person based on the conditions you find

To make sure you know what to do in an emergency situation, you can take a First Aid Class and download our First Aid App to your smartphone. You never know, maybe you’ll be a seat filler at the Oscars and you’ll need to perform CPR on the celebrity next to you. Or, more realistically, you’ll be able to respond to an emergency situation in your home or office (which is where most of these incidents occur).

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American Red Cross has a long history of responding to weather-related disasters, including this blizzard that hit the Blue Ridge Mountains of  North Carolina in 1960.

West Jefferson, NC, March 12, 1960 — Red Cross volunteers who “knew their mountains” acted as spotters aboard the Army helicopters that flew over the snow-locked area, aiding the Red Cross in the delivery of food and fuel.  A spotter is watching out a window and directing a crewman who in turn directs the pilot to the “target.”

West Jefferson, NC, March 12, 1960 — A portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains under several feet of snow.  The view gives an idea of the area the Red Cross worked in to relieve suffering of the mountain and village people.

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Much love to our Red Crossers and the whole community in Hattiesberg, MS

Why zombie fascination is so alive [Stanford News]

The ERV Was the Word [Chicago Tribune]

Obligatory Harlem Shake video from a Red Cross college club [YouTube]

Take the Human Test [ZeFrank YouTube] for a little first world humanitarian fun

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