"We believe volunteers are the heart of our communities, especially during disasters. We are proud to back the Red Cross with a grant to recruit disaster response volunteers and help it fulfill its mission in the communities where our colleagues live and work"
Phoenix, Arizona, March 11th 2019 — The American Red Cross today recognized American Express for its support of the Red Cross volunteer workforce. Through a grant of $100,000, American Express will help enhance the recruitment, training, and engagement of disaster volunteers who respond to emergencies in four communities – Fort Lauderdale, Florida; New York, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; and Salt Lake City, Utah. These communities are home to major American Express operations centers.
“People are what make an organization work,” said Ashley Fairchild, regional volunteer services officer, Red Cross. “American Express and the Red Cross have a strategic alignment to help people during disasters and I have seen firsthand the amazing results that can be achieved when people set out to complete a complex task. Our partnership with American Express provides the people we serve with comfort and hope knowing that the Red Cross bench is strong, and our partners are in the game.”
“We believe volunteers are the heart of our communities, especially during disasters. We are proud to back the Red Cross with a grant to recruit disaster response volunteers and help it fulfill its mission in the communities where our colleagues live and work,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation.
American Express also serves as a member of the Red Cross Disaster Responder program. Disaster Responder members pledge donations year-round, in advance of major disasters, to ensure the Red Cross can respond immediately with comfort and care whenever and wherever disasters occur, help families during the recovery process, and ensure communities come better prepared for the next disaster.
Each year, the Red Cross responds to more than 62,000 disasters across the United States, including home fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and wildfires. Constituting nearly 90% of the humanitarian workforce of the Red Cross, our volunteers respond to disasters nearly 170 times a day nationwide. Red Cross services are provided to people in need of assistance at no cost and regardless of income through the generosity of Red Cross donors.
About American Express
American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, Instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/American-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress. Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, InAuth, corporate card, business travel, and corporate responsibility.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.