Red Cross Month 2012 - Presidential Proclamation

AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH, 2012

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION 

After more than 130 years of providing humanitarian relief at home and abroad, the American Red Cross remains a reflection of the compassion and generosity central to our national identity. At moments of profound need, the actions of men and women across our country reflect our noblest ideals of service -- from search-and-rescue teams that brave disaster zones to ordinary citizens who deliver not only lifesaving care and supplies, but also hope for a brighter tomorrow. During American Red Cross Month, we pay tribute to all those whose dedication to relieving human suffering illuminates even our darkest hours.


A visionary humanitarian and unyielding advocate for those in need, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 after many years of tending to soldiers and families injured in war's wake. In the generations that followed, the American Red Cross served as a force for peace and recovery during times of crisis. Presidents of the United States have called upon the American Red Cross time and again, beginning when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Red Cross Week during the First World War, and continuing into the 21st century.


Today, emergency response organizations like the American Red Cross continue to play a vital role in responding to disasters that cast countless lives and communities into harm's way. When devastating storms struck cities spanning the Midwest to the Eastern Seaboard this past year, the American Red Cross and other relief organizations were instrumental partners in preparedness, response, and recovery. And when a devastating earthquake shook Japan's Pacific coast, they answered by extending support to the people of Japan and standing with them as they rebuild.


We are reminded in times like these that the strength of our humanitarian response and the measure of our resilience are drawn not only from the committed action of relief organizations, but also from individuals who step forward, volunteer, or give what they can to help their neighbors in need. With generous spirits and can-do attitudes, Americans from every corner of our country have come together again and again to show the true character of our Nation. As we celebrate American Red Cross Month, let us resolve to preserve and renew that humanitarian impulse to save, to serve, and to build, and carry it forward in the year to come.


NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2012 as American Red Cross Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, and by supporting the work of service and relief organizations.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

American Red Cross Responds to 12th Fire of the Season

Fresno, CA, January 25, 2012— Local American Red Cross volunteers responded to a house fire on 4400 block of East Ball Avenue in Fresno, Ca at approximately 4:14AM this morning. The team of Red Cross volunteers helped coordinate assistance in the form of food, shelter, and emotional support to the 4 adults and 4 children who were affected by the fire. This marked the 12th fire the Central Valley Chapter has responded to this year. Last year, the Central Valley Region responded to 545 fires. 
“We’re deeply saddened for those affected,” said Ellen Knapp, Regional CEO. “As we continue to provide support to those affected, we also encourage others to take action to minimize the risk of a home fire.”

The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan.

• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

• Place smoke alarms on every level of your home, including bedrooms. • Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year. • Have a plan in place can help you escape, including at least two ways to escape from every

room of your home and a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home. • Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice it at least twice a year.

Red Cross volunteers on the scene were members of the Chapter’s Disaster Action Team, a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon at any time of the day or night.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires or www.arccentralvalley.org

To make a financial donation to your local Red Cross to help people affected by house fires and other disasters here in the United States and around the world, people can click, call or text - visit www.arccentralvalley.org, or call (559) 455-1000 or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Ready and Responding: Local Chapter Responds To Multiple Unit Apartment Fire.

Local American Red Cross volunteers responded to an apartment fire on the 5100 block of Lane Ave in Fresno, CA at approximately 4:30 p.m. today. The team of Red Cross volunteers helped coordinate assistance to the 9 adults and 6 children, in the form of food, shelter, and emotional support due to fire damage to their units.

“We’re deeply saddened for those affected,” said Ellen Knapp, Regional Chief Executive Officer.  “As we continue to provide support to those affected, we also encourage others to take action to minimize the risk of a home fire this holiday season.”

The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan. 

• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
• Place smoke alarms on every level of your home, including bedrooms.
• Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year. 
• Have a plan in place can help you escape, including at least two ways to escape from every room of your home and a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home. 
• Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice it at least twice a year.

Red Cross volunteers on the scene were members of the Chapter’s Disaster Action Team, a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon at any time of the day or night.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires or www.arccentralvalley.org

To make a financial donation to your local Red Cross to help people affected by house fires and other disasters here in the United States and around the world, people can click, call or text - visit www.arccentralvalley.org or call (559) 455-1000, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. 

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

PHILIPPINES: Last week tropical storm Washi swept through entire villages in several areas of the Philippines, causing the deaths of an estimated nearly 1,000 people and massive damage to infrastructure, including the water system. The ICRC, led by it’s local partner the Philippine Red Cross, distributed food packs, essential household items and hygiene kits for 18,000 people in three of the areas hardest hit within the first 48 hours. With more than 270,000 people now lacking access to clean drinking water, ICRC water and habitat engineers are devising ways to bring water from the undamaged water sources and of storing it for use by the survivors.

HAITI: The Haiti Red Cross Society is working to recycle rubble from the earthquake in 2010 to prepare for future disasters. So far they have been able to take 25,000 cubic meters of rubble and have local residents process it into concrete blocks, paving slabs or walls which will stop the ground from slipping away during Haiti’s next heavy rains or in case of another earthquake. The rubble recycling is just one part of the Haiti Red Cross Society’s neighborhood development support that assists in providing shelters, access to water and sanitation, and job opportunities along with training and technical support.

SOMALIA: Torrential rains that started in the southern provinces of Somalia in early October were welcomed in the drought stricken nation, however most roads were turned into rivers that have slowed down transport and delivery of food aid. Together with the Somali Red Crescent Society, the ICRC has distributed beans, rice and oil to over 917,000 people in southern and central Somalia. This will help farmers bridge the gap until January, when they will be able to harvest from seed the ICRC has also distributed.

NORTH KOREA: In North Korea, meager crops were severely damaged after being struck by a typhoon and flooding in July and August. Now, with the arrival of the first snow, people in the area are busy preparing for what they expect to be a severe winter. The Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, supported by the IFRC, has so far distributed 288 metric tons of yellow maize to 6,051 of the most vulnerable families (24,827 people) who were severely affected by floods and subsequent food shortages in three target counties in South Hwanghae province.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

All In A Year's Work - Red Cross Recap of 2011

American Red Cross Had 137 Big U.S. Relief Operations in 46 States in Disaster-Filled 2011

The American Red Cross helped hundreds of thousands of people whose lives were forever changed by disasters in 2011, from tornadoes, floods, wildfires and hurricanes in the U.S. to earthquakes and other disasters around the world.

Throughout the year, the American Red Cross supported the people of Japan and Haiti, while launching 137 domestic disaster relief operations in 46 states and territories to help people affected by fires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes across the United States. In addition, major international disasters included the Japan earthquake and tsunami response and the continuing work following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

“The number of lives affected by large disasters in the past year is simply staggering,” said, Ellen Knapp, Regional Chief Executive Officer. “Devastating tornadoes, flooding and wildfires wiped out entire neighborhoods. Through it all, the Red Cross, our partners, and communities nationwide responded, offering people shelter, food and comfort.”

In the United States, the Red Cross opened 1,019 shelters and provided more than 130,000 overnight stays. 27,622 trained disaster workers served more than 6.7 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 2.6 million relief items. Health and mental health workers provided more than 133,000 consultations and Red Cross workers opened 16,752 cases to help people get on the road to recovery.

State after state faced the powerful force of tornadoes in 2011. Devastating winds plowed through many neighborhoods, leaving destruction in their wake. Through it all, the Red Cross was on the scene, providing a safe place to stay, food to eat and supplies to help with the clean-up. The Red Cross helped people affected by large-scale tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin in 2011.

A large part of the country – almost 20 states – was impacted by flooding in 2011. The Red Cross launched 27 relief operations related to flooding in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont.

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee caused the need for relief operations in more than a dozen states. Thousands of disaster workers were deployed and more than 250 Red Cross feeding trucks were sent into neighborhoods to distribute meals and clean-up supplies. In New York and New Jersey alone, the Red Cross provided almost 34,000 overnight stays in shelters and distributed more than 840,000 meals and snacks.

Wildfires consumed almost four million acres across the state of Texas, and destroyed thousands of acres in New Mexico, Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma. Again, the Red Cross stepped in to help in the fire-ravaged neighborhoods, providing a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support for those forced to leave their homes, as well as firefighters and first responders.

The Red Cross depends on the generous support of the American public to assist people affected by disasters. If you would like to help, please consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

The Twelve Days of a "Red Cross" Christmas

Christmas is a special time to celebrate and be thankful for family and friends. Give the gift that keeps on giving this season, the gift of health and safety to yourself and others.

Here is a Red Cross rewrite of "The 12 Days of Christmas." I think you will like the creativity we've shown. Sing along with the words to remind you to keep using healthy and safe behaviors during the holidays and throughout the year. Reminder, there is only 12 days left until Christmas!

1. On the first day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Seat belts should be clicking into place.

2. On the second day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

3. On the third day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

4. On the fourth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

5. On the fifth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

6. On the sixth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Wash your hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

7. On the seventh day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

8. On the eighth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

9. On the ninth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Prepare for emergencies, eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

10. On the tenth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Be tobacco free, prepare for emergencies, eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

11. On the eleventh day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Take a CPR course, be tobacco-free, prepare for emergencies, eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

12. On the twelfth day of Christmas the Red Cross said to me
Make a donation, take a CPR course, be tobacco-free, prepare for emergencies, eight hours of sleep, become a volunteer, wash hands often, practice fire safety, get your vaccinations, manage your stress, don't drink and drive, and seat belts clicking into place.

Breaking News: Red Cross Sets Up Shelter, Donations Needed.

Breaking News:  On October 22nd, at 4:35am a fire occurred and the Mt. Whitney Hotel located in Lindsay, CA. This is a 26-unit hotel with elderly long-term residents. 37 individuals were evacuated.

Update: The American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter has set up a shelter at the Lindsay City Park Community Center, 911 Parkside Ave, Lindsay, CA following a destructive apartment fire that has left over thirty individuals homeless. Red Cross nurses, mental health professionals and shelter volunteers have been working around the clock today to help the individuals cope with their loss. Please support your local Red Cross by making a donation online at www.arccentralvalley.org

Hurricane Irene: Recover and Rebuild.

While Hurricane and Tropical Storm Irene has come and gone, the Red Cross and Government Agencies are still working to determine the extent of the damage. The Red Cross has launched one of the largest relief operations in recent memory with millions still without power, many people isolated, and possibly $10 billion worth of flood and wind damage. Restoring power is likely to take weeks, and your support is critical to help the Red Cross work with affected areas and prepare nationwide for future disasters. Here’s how you can get involved and make a difference: 

Make a financial donation— The most immediate and direct impact you can make is to donate to the disaster relief fund.

Volunteer— Hundreds of trained volunteers have already been deployed, and more may be needed in the future. Sign up today.

Note: At this time the Red Cross is not accepting donated goods. As needs arises, this may change. 

Other ways you can get involved: 
Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10

What Can You Buy With A Dollar?

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. We at the Red Cross believe that a dollar is worth a thousand "thank you's."


A massive wildfire in eastern Arizona that has displaced as many as 11,000 people calmed overnight and did not grow in size, with officials giving no new evacuation orders on Thursday. But with zero percent containment, over 3,000 firefighters have been working tirelessly to stop the inferno from spreading.


The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Blue Ridge High School in Northeastern Arizona and has been providing many with food, clothing, and most importantly a place to sleep until many can return to their homes. When you donate just $5.00 to the Red Cross you are able to provide a family with a comfort kit, which includes toiletries and personal hygiene materials. Your $10.00 will feed a person in our shelter three full meals. Lastly, your $25.00 donation will feed a family of four dinner as they prepare to spend a night away from their home.

At the Red Cross we understand the value of a dollar. We are not a government agency, and do not receive federal funding. We rely on individuals like you to aid us in our mission. So make a donation today and a help someone recover from one of the worst days in their lives. 

What In The World, Wednesday!

Welcome to What In The World, Wednesday. In which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

JAPAN: The Red Cross is scaling up relief efforts to meet the huge needs. To date, the Japanese Red Cross has handed out more than 125,000 blankets and 20,700 emergency kits – including portable radios, flashlights and other supplies – to help evacuees cope with the cold weather and lack of electricity. Other badly needed items, such as diapers, baby food, undershirts and face masks, are being procured from within the country as well. In parallel with the distribution of relief goods, Red Cross planners are also consulting with the local authorities to map out other ways of making survivors’ lives more comfortable during their stay in evacuation centers.
BANGLADESH: Since the current crisis erupted in Libya, the ICRC has been helping thousands of Bangladeshi workers who have fled the country.
SOMALIA: With ICRC support, the Somali Red Crescent Society has opened two new health clinics in conflict and drought-affected regions to serve more than 100,000 people.
WORLDWIDE: The ICRC is helping Latin American prisons eradicate tuberculosis. Meanwhile other members of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network are addressing TB around the world in places like China, India, and Siberia.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Saint Patrick’s Day, a Worldwide Party!

Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday celebrated Internationally on March 17. It is named after Saint Patrick and originated as a Catholic holiday. It wasn’t until the early 17th century that it became an official feast day and today it is a huge part of Irish Culture. So, this year, while your testing your luck of the Irish in an exciting game of "drink until you can’t feel anything anymore," take a look at how the rest of the world celebrates the green holiday. 

Argentina - Celebrates with all-night long parties in designated streets, since the weather is comfortably warm in March. People dance and drink only beer throughout the night, until seven or eight in the morning, and although the tradition of mocking those who do not wear green does not exist, many people wear something green.

Canada - One of the longest-running Saint Patrick's Day parades in North America occurs each year in Montreal, the flag of which has a shamrock in one of its corners. The parades have been held in continuity since 1824

Great Britain - The Queen Mother used to present bowls of shamrock flown over from Ireland to members of the Irish Guards, a regiment in the British Army consisting primarily of soldiers from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Guards still wear shamrock on this day, flown in from Ireland.

Montserrat - Known as "Emerald Island of the Caribbean" because of its founding by Irish refugees from Saint Kitts and Nevis, is the only place in the world apart from Ireland and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador where St Patrick's Day is a public holiday. The holiday commemorates a failed slave uprising that occurred on 17 March 1768.

South Korea - Seoul (Capital city of South Korea) has celebrated Saint Patrick's Day since 2001 with Irish Association of Korea. The place of parade and festival has been moved from Itaewon and Daehangno to Cheonggyecheon.

New Zealand - Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in New Zealand - green items of clothing are traditionally worn and the streets are often filled with revellers drinking and making merry from early afternoon until late at night.

Japan - Saint Patrick's Parades are now held in 9 locations across Japan. The first parade, in Tokyo, was organised by The Irish Network Japan in 1992. Today, parades and other events related to Saint Patrick's Day spread across almost the entire month of March.

United States - Well, I’m pretty sure you all can figure out how we celebrate here. Just mix enough green and beer together and it’s sure to be a good time.

And this year, while you’re wearing your traditional green colors, remember to mix some red into your day by making a donation to your local American Red Cross to help aid the relief efforts in Japan. And fear not, we will still accept your donation while heavily intoxicated. Just think of it this way, you're going to blow a large amount of money anyways, might as well put some of it to good use and help those in need. May you all have a safe and Merry Saint Patrick’s Day!

-Aaron Lloyd, Health & Safety Services Intern

Red Cross Asks People To Join During Red Cross Month.

Organization Helping Those In Need For 130 Years 

March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross is asking people to join them in helping those in need by volunteering their time, making a donation, or taking a class.

“When someone provides a hot meal to a disaster victim, takes a first aid class, or helps someone in the military, they join the Red Cross,” said, Ellen Knapp, Regional CEO of the Central Valley Chapter. “We want to say ‘thank you’ to all who support us. That support enables us to provide help and hope to those who need our assistance.”

For nearly 100 years, U.S. Presidents have called on people to support the American Red Cross and its humanitarian mission. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to proclaim March as Red Cross Month in 1943. Since that time, President Obama and every president since have issued proclamations designating March as Red Cross Month.

The Red Cross has been helping people for 130 years, responding to disasters, assisting members of the military, and teaching lifesaving skills.

The Central Valley Chapter responded and provided assistance in 446 local disasters last year. The chapter processed 580 emergency military calls, and trained 35,113 individuals in CPR/AED, first aid, and aquatics safety. The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time and money to do its work.

In the spirit of Red Cross Month, your local Chapter of the American Red Cross has set a goal to train 1,000 individuals in the Central Valley in FREE CPR or Disaster Preparedness. Throughout March, the Red Cross will come to your business/organization and train groups of 10 to 25 in either a non-certificate “Hands Only Citizen’s CPR” course or a Be “Red Cross Ready” disaster preparedness seminar. Courses will last between 30 minutes to an hour and are a perfect lunchtime treat! For more information or to schedule your training today please contact the American Red Cross at (559) 455-1000.

On March 25, the Central Valley Chapter will be holding our ninth annual Real Heroes event in which we celebrate selfless acts of courage and humanitarian service by real people in our community, at the Chandler Airport - Memley Aviation Hangar. This 1940’s themed night will begin at 5:30pm with a silent auction, followed by the presentation of this year’s heroes, dinner, dancing, and live auction. Tickets are $50 per person and are available on our website www.arccentralvalley.org.

Why It's Best To Give Close To Home.

Whether Americans are moved by the holiday spirit or just doing some last-ditch tax planning, the charitable-giving season starts now. But with budgets tight, it's important to get the most out of your gift -- and you might get more mileage from your contribution by giving to smaller, local organizations, rather than to the big, brand-name charities.  

Although overall donations to charities are down -- 40% of charities said they saw contributions decline in the first half of 2010, compared to 2009, according to one survey -- some signs suggest givers are still supporting local charities. When times get tough, people tend to shift their giving toward groups that provide basic needs, experts say, and the groups best able to meet those needs tend to be local. Of the few non-profits that saw increased contributions in 2009, many -- including ones like the AmeriCares Foundation -- rely on donated goods such as clothing and food. Those aren't the sorts of things people go far to give. And after seeing school budgets cut and neighbors' homes foreclosed upon, many people are also focused more on improving their own community, says Bob Ottenhoff, the chief executive of GuideStar, which serves as a massive repository for information on more than 1.8 million U.S. charities, including their financials.

The move toward local giving may also represent a shift toward more efficient giving. With fewer charitable dollars in play, local charities are often able to spend more of the money they raise on programs, says Jeffrey Cain, a principal at consulting firm American Philanthropic, largely because they don't usually employ professional fundraisers or a powerful chief executive with a big salary to match. For example, the national organization AIDS Emergency Fund receives a middling rating from Charity Navigator, a nonprofit organization that grades charities based on fundraising efficiency, spending on programs and other measures of generosity, in part because it puts 81.9% toward programs. In contrast, a top-rated local organization with a similar mission, AIDS Foundation Houston, spends 86.8% on programs -- a difference which means an extra $4.90 for every $100 donated gets passed on to the organization's clients.

Local organizations may also be easier to vet than national groups. That means a better shot at assessing whether a group accomplishes its aims, says Tim Seiler, the director of the Fund Raising School for The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Before you write a check, you could visit an adopt-a-thon at a local animal shelter to see first-hand how many kittens have been saved and placed or volunteer for a shift at the soup kitchen to see how it's run and how many people it serves nightly. "That visit is usually a pretty good indicator of whether you like what's going on," he says.

Local groups are often able to fundraise more efficiently, too. So even in cases where the local option breaks even with national, or falls behind, there's an advantage to having the impact of say, more aid for the homeless or better literacy programs in your neighborhood. "It's an investment in your community," Cain says.

Here's an example of how a national charity's spending compares to several local organizations with a similar mission:

Some causes, of course, are better served nationally. Medical research is largely run by national groups, for example. International aid does include plenty of small groups local to an affected area, but it's usually difficult to donate directly, says Eileen Heisman, the chief executive of National Philanthropic Trust.

And in some cases, there might not even be a local group to support. In the aftermath of a natural disaster -- such as Hurricane Katrina or the earthquake in Haiti -- local organizations may be in need of help themselves, and ill-equipped to help others. Meanwhile, national groups are also more effective at processing and distributing aid, says Ottenhoff. Local groups may have good intentions, but big, established nonprofits have the connections and experience to make more of a difference quickly.

Sometimes you can have it both ways: National charities such as the Red Cross may let you designate a donation for a specific local chapter. If you go that route, check the branches' finances, says Bennett Weiner, the chief operating officer for the Better Business Bureaus' Wise Giving Alliance. (You can do that at the BBB, Charity Navigator or GuideStar.) Local affiliates may manage their operations separately and could be more -- or less -- effective than their parent charity.

Courtesy of Yahoo! News December 13, 2010. Charities: Why Its Best To Give Close To Home.

Who Said We Were A Government Agency?

Yes, there are lots of non-profits out there that do amazing things for their communities, and many of them are similar to the Red Cross in one function or another. We're not the only provider of CPR training, nor are we the only disaster relief organization.

So, what makes the Red Cross different?

Well, unlike some other non-profits, the American Red Cross maintains a special relationship with the US government through its congressional charter. Though it's not a federal organization, the Red Cross has the legal status of "a federal instrumentality" and has been appointed to assist in fulfilling the obligations of the Geneva Convention. According to its charter, the Red Cross is required to:

- fulfill the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, to which the United States is a signatory, assigned to national societies for the protection of victims of conflict,

- provide family communications and other forms of support to the U.S. military, and

- maintain a system of domestic and international disaster relief, including mandated responsibilities under the National Response Plan coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Did your eyes glaze over? Don't worry, me too. Here's what it means: The Red Cross has a huge responsibility to support the humanitarian efforts of the US government. As I mentioned, we're not a government agency, so this is all accomplished through the hard work of our volunteers and donors.

It's a big job. And while volunteering your time is a great thing to do no matter what organization you choose to do it with, I urge everyone to consider the Red Cross.

Purchase Your Holiday Greeting Cards To Support Your Local Chapter Today!

Food. Shelter. Comfort. Hope.

Give the Gift that Saves the Day.

The holidays are already around the corner! Order your holiday greeting cards today from the American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter and your support will help when a neighbor loses their home to a fire, a military family needs emergency communication, or when a child needs a hug and a blanket. 

It's simple, just click here, customize your cards as you wish, and a donation will benefit your local chapter. Help us raise the funds needed to ensure we will always be there for you when you need us most. I can assure you that your gift today will save the day for those we serve tomorrow - giving hope when it's needed most. 

Thank you for your generosity,

Sincerely,

Ellen Knapp

CEO American Red Cross Central Valley