In Memory of Sandy Klein
“I feel a commitment to the Red Cross and feel a level of ownership toward our lifesaving mission. It's part of my volunteer responsibility to engage and educate people about the work that we do. It’s not about me. It’s about them, the people we serve.” Sandy Klein
Updated February 23, 2024:
The American Red Cross is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our treasured volunteer leaders, Sandy Klein. Sandra Jean Klein, of Summerville, South Carolina passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2024.
For many years, Sandy gave her time, talents, and treasure in service to the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross. She served the organization in many capacities, from serving as a director on the Lowcountry Chapter Board of Directors and several committees to serving as a past chair of the Tiffany Circle Charleston Chapter and as a member of the Tiffany National Council.
Sandy was passionate about disaster relief and a great advocate and supporter of the Home Fire Campaign, a program to reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries. Sandy also recognized and supported the needs of our biomedical services, funding a bloodmobile to enhance community blood donations. Most recently, Sandy became passionate about our climate initiative and supporting families across the country who are struggling to cope with this humanitarian crisis.
Sandy was a member of the Red Cross Chairman’s Council, which recognizes generous individuals and families whose cumulative lifetime giving to the Red Cross exceeds $1 million. The Chairman’s Council celebrates the extraordinary generosity of leading philanthropists like Sandy, whose incredible investment provides life-changing—and often lifesaving—services.
Sandy leaves a legacy of generosity and compassion, and her contributions to the Red Cross will have a lasting impact on the communities we serve for many years to come. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Sandy’s family and friends.
About her time as a Tiffany Circle Member:
Around the globe, women are leading the charge when it comes to philanthropy and generous financial contributions to nonprofit organizations. We see that within our own Tiffany Circle both domestically and abroad.
When it comes to the Red Cross, women leading the charge is a part of our history. This dates back to Clara Barton, who founded our organization in 1881 and served as president for 23 years. And it continues today, with our Chairman Gail McGovern.
We are so thankful for each of the women who have been led to connect their passions with the purpose of helping us serve our humanitarian mission. One of those very special women was Sandy Klein.
Years ago, when Sandy moved to South Carolina, she wasted no time in getting involved in her new community. She volunteered her time with “Holiday for Heroes,” an event sponsored by the local chapter of the American Red Cross. She took greeting cards into schools and helped children write letters to service men and women. Close to 40,000 service members received holiday cards that year.
“That was pretty heart rendering and pretty gratifying,” she said. “So that’s when I started exploring the Red Cross.”
We are so grateful that Sandy explored the Red Cross and has been an instrumental part of our Red Cross family for many years. An unwavering commitment to our lifesaving work and an unmatched desire to help others is what drove Sandy.
She served as a Lowcountry South Carolina Chapter Board Member, chaired the mission committee and was active on the biomedical, philanthropy & D & I committees. Sandy was also a Community Volunteer Leader and had her own cubicle at the Lowcountry Chapter. She came into the office daily, but after COVID restrictions Sandy continued to volunteer daily from her home—working more than 4,800 volunteer hours with the Red Cross.
She was a former Tiffany Circle National Council Member and Tiffany Circle Torchbearer in addition to being a member of our Chairman’s Council. In 2018, Sandy was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence, an honor the American Red Cross bestows to about 25 people annually — for the most dedicated employees and volunteers in the organization.
Sandy led home fire prevention initiatives, meeting with church and school groups to educate people about how to prepare for a disaster. She also installed free smoke alarms in South Carolina communities. Sandy made an extraordinarily generous gift which will provide funding to support more than 1,000 families who need help after a home fire through our home fire financial assistance program.
In addition, her donation will be utilized to support our Blood Saves Lives/Fighting Cancer program. Her gift is the first commitment for Fighting Cancer initiative and Sandy hoped that her contribution will inspire others to help ensure that all patients needing blood and platelets will have a safe and steady supply.
"Sandy's passion for our work reminds me, on a daily basis, that our goal at the Red Cross is to help people. All people. Whenever they need us," said Ashley Henyan, Executive Director for our Lowcountry Chapter. "She led with her head and her heart—and to have those qualities in a Board Member, Community Volunteer Leader and Tiffany Circle Member, that is simply priceless."