LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 26, 2018 – The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region has announced changes in leadership in two Chapter Executive Director positions. Margaret Arbini-Madonna, Executive Director of the Greater Long Beach, Rio Hondo, and South Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross, will retire Saturday after 14 years with the organization and will be succeeded by Veronica Garcia Dávalos, current Executive Director of the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter. The Red Cross has hired Erica Frausto-Aguado, formerly the Executive Director of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, to succeed Garcia Dávalos in that role starting today.
Margaret Arbini-Madonna has spent 14 years with the American Red Cross, serving as a Public Support Officer, Financial Development Officer, and finally Executive Director of the Greater Long Beach, Rio Hondo, and South Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross. She is a trained Red Cross Public Information Officer and has served on numerous Red Cross disaster assignments throughout the country, including tornadoes, transportation accidents, large fires and urban floods.
“It was love at first sight 14 years ago and has been an honor to play a small part in insuring the 137-year mission of the Red Cross thrives in our communities,” said Arbini-Madonna. “Together with our boards of directors, volunteers, donors and staff, we’ve helped in large disasters, such as the historic Paradise Gardens Fire and the evacuation of Catalina. With our elected officials and community leaders we held preparedness fairs, marched in parades and celebrated Hometown Heroes for their extraordinary bravery. Under Veronica Garcia Davalos’ leadership, the chapter will continue to do a wonderful job serving the community.”
Veronica Garcia Dávalos has been a resident of Long Beach for more than 20 years. She is a Commissioner for the City of Long Beach, Past President of Leadership Long Beach, and co-founder of the United Latino Fund and National Latina Alliance.
“I have immensely enjoyed serving the Red Cross as the Executive Director for the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter" said Garcia Dávalos. “The board members and volunteers are the most committed and passionate people I’ve ever met. San Gabriel Valley is where I grew up, so it is home for me. However, for the past 24 years, I have been living and working in the Greater Long Beach and South Bay community and look forward to continuing my work there to further support the mission of the American Red Cross.”
Erica Frausto-Aguado takes over leadership of the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross after serving as the Executive Director of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce for over four years.
“I am excited to join the American Red Cross team because I believe in the fundamental principles of the organization to support all human life without discrimination and I am excited to join the efforts to serve the mission across the San Gabriel-Pomona Valley,” said Frausto-Aguado. “It is especially significant to me that I will be serving this area because I was born, raised and found opportunities in the San Gabriel-Pomona Valley and now I find myself fortunate to serve and give back to the communities I know as my home.”
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 international 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 about the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.