For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross of Wisconsin has provided aid and resources to people in the Badger State to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Today, in addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers educational programs that promote health and safety; support and comfort for military members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products; and international relief and development programs.
For more information on resources, contacts, leadership, chapters and historical responses, scroll the page below.
For general inquiries or requests, please call:
(877) 618-6628
To get help (24 hours a day):
(800) 236-8680
To volunteer:
(877) 618-6628 ext. 5822
volunteerwisconsin@redcross.org
To donate by phone:
(414) 342-8680
To donate by mail:
Send check or money order to:
American Red Cross Wisconsin Region
2600 West Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53233
For fundraising-related questions, please call:
(414) 342-8680
For media inquiries, please ask for the Public Affairs officer on-call at 1-888-670-0580.
Services to armed forces:
If you are military service member or family member in need of immediate assistance, please call (877) 272-7337 or visit our Help for Military Families page.
Community based residential facilities inquiries:
(800) 733-2767
To schedule a blood donation appointment, please call:
(800) RED-CROSS or RedCrossBlood.org
To take a class:
Review our available Health & Safety classes online or call for information:
(800) RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
An active, voluntary board of directors and paid management team provide leadership for carrying out the work of the Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin. Chapter management consists of a team of officers and program directors. Mark Thomas provides overall leadership to the Wisconsin Region as Chief Executive Officer, as well as localized leadership as the Southeast Chapter Executive.
The Board of Directors is the governing body for the organization and is composed of representatives from many different community sectors. This group develops the vision for the chapter and determines the policies that guide the chapter’s decisions. The Board of Directors ensures that the chapter is an effective steward of our donor’s contributions.
Mark Thomas joined the American Red Cross of Wisconsin in December 2018 as both Regional CEO and Southeast Chapter Executive. Thomas has deep nonprofit and for-profit executive experience, with strengths in sales and operations management, and strategic leadership skills. Thomas has led or participated in fundraising efforts for The American Heart Association, United Performing Arts Fund and The United Way. Most recently, he served as Vice President and COO for the Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee.
Thomas said the people and mission of the American Red Cross provide an opportunity to extend his professional expertise and his dedication to Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
“The staff, volunteers, donors and advocates at the Red Cross provide our state with a powerful resource for positive change, from home fire recovery and military support, to safety training, responses to national disasters and ensuring a strong blood supply,” Thomas said. “I am grateful to help lead such a highly regarded organization with a commitment to Milwaukee and Wisconsin that spans more than 100 years.”
His professional background also includes leadership roles at The Milwaukee Business Journal, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
A Milwaukee native who lives in Mequon with his family, Thomas has and currently serves on numerous nonprofit boards, and has been recognized on numerous occasions for his contributions to the community.
In February 2023, Julie assumed responsibility for the role of the Regional Chief Operating Officer. Julie joined the Red Cross in February 2017 in the role of Southwest Disaster Program Manager. She led the response efforts for the Didion Milling Plant explosion in Cambria in May 2017, was involved with the southwest Wisconsin flooding, Hurricane Harvey, and the Sun Prairie gas explosion, among smaller local DAT responses throughout the chapter. Julie was also involved with the first Sound the Alarm event in Wisconsin and was actively involved coordinating the Disability Integration team in Wisconsin establishing protocols and training. In February 2019, she moved into Operations and focused on the One Red Cross mission, centralizing Operations, Facilities and Fleet among the biomed and humanitarian sites. Julie lives in Milton with her husband, Chris, and looks forward with excitement as she keeps the momentum moving forward in the role of Regional Chief Operating Officer.
Kyle has been with the Red Cross since 1997. In that time, he has been a Program Director for disasters, health & safety, and Service to the Armed Forces. Kyle has also led three different Wisconsin Chapters. Before coming to the Southwest Wisconsin Chapter in late 2020, he led our Northwest Chapter based in Altoona. Kyle and his wife have family and professional connections in the Madison area, and he looks forward to having the chance to "do great things" with the team and supporters in the Southwest Chapter.
Mary Jane ‘MJ’ Thomsen is proud to represent the American Red Cross as Executive Director for the Northwest Wisconsin Chapter. She has been in her role since August of 2021 and works with the local team on all lines of Red Cross services. Prior to assuming this role, MJ worked for Red Cross as Executive Director in St. Louis, Missouri for nearly four years and District Manager for Blood Services for over eight years. Originally from Minnesota, MJ and her husband, Mike Borough, relocated to Eau Claire with their English Springer Spaniel named Scout to be closer to family. And, because she is excited to be a part of the Wisconsin Region and looks forward to accomplishing great things with an amazing team!
Kathryn Halvorsen is a familiar face in Central Wisconsin. Her experience includes serving as the evening anchor at WAOW News 9 in Wausau. Prior to that, Halvorsen anchored and reported in Traverse City, Michigan. Halvorsen is a native of Crystal Lake IL and currently lives in Wausau. Her positive energy will be an asset as she aspires to giving back to the community. As a natural storyteller, Halvorsen hopes to use her networking skills to establish new relationships and further advance the Red Cross mission. Spending nearly six years storytelling for TV, she is excited to continue to tell the great stories of Red Crossers moving forward.
Rebecca has worked in social services and mental health care for over 25 years, with experience in nonprofit management, fund development, and organizational and program development. She has served in various roles with The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and most recently as the Executive Director of Connections for Mental Wellness, an initiative with the long-term goal of increasing mental wellness education, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health needs, and promoting the emotional well-being of individuals throughout Wisconsin. She holds a degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and is a certified trainer for QPR and, Mental Health First Aid for Adults, Youth and Teens.