In 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., after witnessing the effectiveness of the International Red Cross in Europe during her time as a nurse in the Civil War. She recognized a critical gap in humanitarian assistance during emergencies and disasters within the United States. Barton's vision was straightforward yet revolutionary: an organization dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies, mobilizing volunteers and donors to make a meaningful difference when it matters most.
Today, more than 140 years later, that founding vision continues to guide the American Red Cross. Every eight minutes, the organization responds to an emergency - from small house fires to multi-state natural disasters - providing shelter, clean water, hot meals, and comfort to families in crisis. The Red Cross supplies approximately 40% of the nation's blood supply, teaches life-saving skills like CPR and first aid, and provides crucial support to military members, veterans, and their families. Part of the largest humanitarian network in the world, the American Red Cross remains true to Clara Barton's mission: serving those in need, wherever and whenever help is required.