Red Cross Mission and History

While you may have already heard about the American Red Cross, do you know what we are doing to assist our nation’s communities and, more importantly, do you know what you can do to help? If you are interested in learning more about who we are, our history and the projects we are currently working on, scan the list on the left and click on the area that interests you.

Mission

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

How the American Red Cross started...

One morning in 1861, Clara Barton watched from her window at the United States Patent Office as the first Civil War troops arrived in Washington. They were wounded, sick and hungry. Disturbed by what she saw, Barton made a commitment to help those affected by war or civil unrest. Within a year, Barton had organized central collection centers for medical supplies and began to travel with the Union Army, distributing supplies and helping army doctors where she could. 

In 1869, Barton traveled to Switzerland where she was introduced to Henry Dunant's Red Cross. When she returned to the U.S., Barton formed the American Red Cross. By 1881, with an army of volunteers, Barton began disaster relief across the country, bearing the red symbol known throughout the world today as the Red Cross.

Over 120 years later, the American Red Cross is the largest humanitarian organization in the U.S. Everyday, across the country, 1.4 million volunteers carry out the Red Cross mission to provide relief to victims of disaster and to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Volunteers remain the heart and soul of the Red Cross. In fact, 98 percent of the Red Cross workforce is volunteer-based. Whether it is during a local disaster, through an educational program or daily community outreach, you can enrich your life and the lives you touch through the Red Cross. Your time and talents can make a difference in the lives around you.

Take a look at 100 significant dates in American Red Cross history.