The American National Red Cross was founded in 1881 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It operates across the United States as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world's largest humanitarian network. The organisation is dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering in emergencies by mobilising volunteers and donors.
The Red Cross responds to emergencies on average every eight minutes, providing shelter, clean water, hot meals, and comfort after events such as house fires and natural disasters. It supplies approximately 40% of the nation's blood and offers health and safety training, including CPR and first aid, to the public. The organisation also supports military members, veterans, and their families through dedicated programmes.
With more than 140 years of continuous operation, the Red Cross works across several sectors including humanitarian assistance, emergency and disaster response, blood services, and health and safety training. Its work is guided by the founding vision of serving those in need and relies heavily on a broad base of volunteers and donors to carry out its mission.