National American Red Cross Founder’s Day Date in the current year: May 21, 2024

The International Committee of the Red Cross was founded by Henry Dunant, a Swiss humanitarian, social activist and businessman who came up with the idea of creating an independent organization for taking care of wounded soldiers after witnessing the aftermath of the 1859 Battle of Solferino.

In 1869, American nurse and educator Clara Barton, who had worked on the front lines during the American Civil War, took a trip to Geneva where she was introduced to the Red Cross and Dr. Louis Appa, who was instrumental in the founding of the organization. He encouraged Barton to found the American branch of the Red Cross.

Barton became closely involved in the work of the Red Cross in Europe during the Franco-Prussian War. Upon her return to the United States in the early 1870s, she launched a movement to found the American Red Cross and have it recognized by the U. S. government. Burton finally succeeded in 1881.

The first official meeting of the American Red Cross was held on May 21, 1881 in Washington, DC. Its anniversary is now observed as National American Red Cross Founder’s Day. The first local chapter of the society was founded on August 22, 1881 in Upstate New York, where Barton owned a country home and had connections. Among the first major relief efforts of the American Red Cross were responses to the 1881 Thumb Fire in Michigan and the 1889 Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania.

Unfortunately, Barton failed to build a staff she trusted and raise enough funds for the organization. Because of this, she was forced out of the American Red Cross in 1904, and a group of professional social work experts took over the organization to reform it in accordance with the principle of the Progressive movement.

The American Red Cross is one of the 190 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It is the US movement to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the designated United States affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The American Red Cross is a not-for-profit humanitarian organization that specializes in emergency assistance and disaster relief, as well as providing disaster preparedness education. 90% of its workforce is made up of volunteers who have been trained to respond to any natural or man-made disaster.

The American Red Cross has five key lines of service: blood services (blood donation, plasma services, tissue services, cellular therapies, etc.), training services (health and safety training), disaster services, international services, and service to the U. S. Armed Forces (providing support and assistance to members of the military, veterans and their families).

The American Red Cross celebrates Founder’s Day ever year to commemorate the organization’s history and mission, as well as to recognize Clara Barton’s crucial role in the founding of the organization.