For Katharine “Posie” Carpenter, the American Red Cross is a multigenerational legacy, one that runs through her blood in more ways than one.

Her grandmother volunteered, wrapping soldiers’ bandages and selling war bonds during World War II; her mother served as a “Gray Lady” throughout the 1950s, and today, her wife, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter continue that tradition, volunteering with—and even working for—the Red Cross.

A registered nurse and former health care executive, Posie joined the Red Cross in 2014 as a member of the Santa Monica Bay Chapter Board, where she would go on to serve as chair for more than five years. She later stepped into a regional leadership role as vice chair of the Tiffany Circle of the Los Angeles Region, helping grow a community of women dedicated to advancing the Red Cross mission.

Posie went on to expand her involvement, training as a biomedical volunteer, an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) driver, and serving at blood drives as a registered RN, later supporting disaster health efforts nationwide. From 2018 to 2023, she served as the Director of the National Nursing Network, working across the country to strengthen disaster health services and build a pipeline of nurse volunteers.

One of Posie’s most defining moments with the Red Cross came during an unprecedented 2017 hurricane season, when three Category 4+ storms struck in rapid succession. During a response briefing, she was shown a map filled with red dots—each representing a deployed ERV heading to an affected region. “That was my ‘aha’ moment,” she said. “Seeing all those vehicles filled with volunteers heading across the country—that’s when I truly understood the magnitude of what this organization does in times of real need.”

Moments like that continue to shape how Posie sees the Red Cross, especially in its ability to evolve. “What we’re doing today looks very different than what we were doing even a year ago,” she said. “We’re constantly improving how we show up for people, whether that’s responding faster, expanding services, or finding new ways to meet communities where they are.”

Today, Posie, alongside her partner, Moreen, remain deeply committed to both response and prevention. Whether installing smoke alarms through Sound the Alarm, teaching water safety as a certified water safety instructor (WSI) through the Learn to Swim program, or promoting CPR and first aid training, she is passionate about empowering others and teaching them about preventative safety and crisis response.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.