American Red Cross
Wajih Sheikh
Com 530

Professor: Thorton

American Red Cross

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Mission Statement

“The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies” (American Red Cross, 2010).

Vision

“It is our vision to assist the American Red Cross in becoming a healthy, effective and harmonious organization capable of equitably and justly resolving conflict in which all stakeholders work seamlessly as one entity, and in which the public places high trust, to provide blood services and humanitarian and disaster assistance consistent with the fundamental American Red Cross principles of independence, neutrality, impartiality, universality, voluntary service, unity and humanity” (American Red Cross, 2010).

Philosophy

“That the American Red Cross is and ought to be an organization governed, supported, and primarily staffed by volunteers. That paid staff are enablers of, and not substitutes for, volunteers. The principal management roles are filled by teams of volunteers and paid managers working together and sharing responsibility” (American Red Cross, 2010).

The Red Cross is an international organization dedicated to war and disaster relief. It originally started in Switzerland in 1859. Clara Barton founded the American chapter in 1882, which consist of several sub-chapters covering different parts of the U.S. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, so therefore, the government does not provide funding. Instead, it relies on donations, especially donation of time by its’ volunteers. “The American Red Cross volunteers constitute 96% of the total workforce to carry on