Louisiana Red Cross CEO, Kenneth St. Charles PhD (left), with outgoing North Chapter Board Chairman Henry Burns (center left), North Chapter Executive Director Karen McCoy (center right) and incoming Board Chairman Cassie Walton (right) at the annual Board Meeting in Shreveport.
July 30, 2024
By: Debrah Linn, Red Cross Volunteer
Henry Burns has a special, likeable way about him. The father of four and grandfather of nine has smile lines around his eyes, evidence of his good nature and smart wit. Yet, he gives an impression of authority and leadership, skills necessary for the multiple leadership roles Burns has held. In June, he stepped down from his latest role, chair of the board of directors for the American Red Cross North Louisiana Chapter, a position he held for two years.
For over a decade, Burns dedicated his time and energy to the Red Cross, describing its mission as “the purest ministry.” With a thoughtful smile, he said, “a lot of organizations have great ministries, but none is as pure to me as the Red Cross.”
He cherished meeting volunteers from all walks of life and witnessing their commitment to the organization. He noted that the Red Cross is “about others. Whether they’re rich or poor, they’re helped.”
As Burns stepped down, he passed leadership to the one he deems “most capable” for the role, Cassie Walton. A lifelong resident of Shreveport-Bossier City, Walton assumed her position as chair of the board of directors with an engaging smile and an air of determination, characteristics refined by 23 years of experience as a premier real estate agent.
Although relatively new to the Red Cross, she believes being one of the newer board members is an asset to her new role. “I don’t have an embedded sense of what it should be, and I’m looking from a new perspective, which allows me to give an unfiltered view,” she stated. “I really don’t care what you’ve done in the past. I want to bring something new and fresh.”
With a focus on creating self-sufficiency in North Louisiana, Walton wants to increase community involvement by recruiting more volunteers and encouraging philanthropy in the area. “I want to make sure we are self-sufficient, that we have the volunteers, the funding, and all of the things that we need when a disaster hits or a family needs our assistance and that we are able to hit the ground running,” she said.
Walton also recognizes her realtor experience as an asset to her new position, and rightly so. “Being a realtor, I’m out in the community all the time,” she stated. “I deal with clients on a daily basis. I know what the community needs. I can see the direct impact that the Red Cross has from that standpoint as well.”
Walton believes many don’t understand how the Red Cross assists at the local level. “When we think of the Red Cross, we think of it from a national perspective, and we don’t realize how much immediate impact in our area the Red Cross has, “said Walton. “So that’s kind of my focus — bringing that awareness to what we do here locally for everybody.”
Walton also recognizes the importance of the Sound the Alarm program offered by the Red Cross. “I feel like that’s something we deal with on [home] inspections, and, knowing that we are one of the largest and the highest rated areas for fires, I think that’s just crucial in our area,” she said. “I never want to see somebody lose a home or a life over something that could have easily been prevented for $10-15.”
While she may be a relatively new member of the board of directors, Walton’s experience with the Red Cross began in 1999 when a deadly tornado hit north Bossier City. “My mom was impacted and lost everything in that Easter tornado,” she recalled. “They did have insurance, but all of that’s not immediate.” Walton witnessed first-hand the response of the Red Cross as they distributed bath towels and other necessities. “They were immediate,” she said. “They were on scene and immediately helping the people in that area, and it was just incredible to watch.”
Cassie Walton (center) sharing information about Red Cross services in North Louisiana on KSLA's Yokem Connection segment. Watch the full clip here.
When asked how she would describe the Red Cross to those interested in volunteering or donating, Walton didn’t hesitate to respond that she wants those in North Louisiana to “realize how deep the Red Cross is embedded here and the things that we bring to our community. That is what I want to convey. The money that is coming in is going back out to where it needs to go.”
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