American Red Cross

Specialties

Established in 1881 by Clara Barton, the American Red Cross is one of the premier emergency response organizations worldwide. In addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers a variety of community services for underprivileged people. It also supports military personnel and their families. The organization collects, processes and distributes blood and blood products. It is one of the largest suppliers of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals throughout the United States. The American Red Cross provides educational programs and promotes health, safety and international relief programs. The organization operates a network of more than 800 chapters and blood service regions throughout the U.S. The American Red Cross has more than 1 million volunteers and over 30,000 employees. It also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts worldwide. The American Red Cross offers a variety of health and safety classes to youths, such as babysitter s training, first aid, aquatics and water safety. The American Red Cross is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and maintains a location in Charlotte, N.C.