By Stephanie Wesseling, American Red Cross Public Affairs

For Lisa Gruenloh, joining the Board of Directors for the Florida Gulf Coast to Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross was more than just an opportunity to give back, it was a full-circle moment.

Lisa’s journey with the Red Cross began when she was just 11 years old, taking her first Red Cross babysitting certification course. From there, she became a certified lifeguard and water safety instructor, spending summers in St. Louis keeping a watchful eye over swimmers at the Park Charles Bath and Tennis Club. Now, decades later, she serves the Red Cross in an even greater capacity, driven by the same passion she discovered in her youth.

“The Red Cross has been part of my life for a long, long time, and I actually resonate deeply with every single aspect of the mission,” Lisa shared.

With a background in public affairs and advocacy and a master’s thesis on FEMA’s Mitigation, Prevention and Preparedness Program, Lisa has always been fascinated by how communities prepare for disasters. Her early career in strategic communication and stakeholder engagement, including congressional, federal agency, and PR consultancy positions, deepened her understanding of the collaboration needed across public, private and nonprofit sectors to effectively respond to crises. When she moved to Southwest Florida, getting involved with the Red Cross felt natural.

Her commitment to the organization took on new depth when she joined Tiffany Circle, a network of philanthropic women leaders dedicated to supporting the Red Cross mission. Last year, she attended the Tiffany Circle Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, where she connected with passionate women from the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.

“I felt so inspired. I made incredible connections and friendships that will last a lifetime,” she said.

One of the most memorable moments from the Summit for Lisa was meeting keynote speaker Ruth Jebb, a registered nurse and International Red Cross Health Delegate from Australia.

“Ruth shared the heartbreaking, inspiring story of her experience serving as an aide worker at a hospital in [the Middle East]. As she spoke, I kept thinking what an enormous amount of love, compassion, and courage it takes for a health professional to serve in an active war zone. And it wasn’t the first time. Ruth has more than 20 years of experience in disaster, conflict and development settings across the globe - tending to the wounded and ill after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and the 2015 Nepal earthquakes, coordinating a feeding clinic for thousands of malnourished children in Sudan, and providing midwifery and intensive care in Cambodia and Chad. She was deservedly awarded with the Florence Nightingale Medal in 2017 for her heroic dedication. I will never ever be able to unhear or unsee what Ruth shared, and it has given me an even deeper appreciation for our brave, talented Red Crossers who embody our humanitarian mission in such extraordinary ways,” Lisa reflected.

Additionally, touring the International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva was a profound experience for Lisa and left her “forever changed” by the rich history and remarkable stories of humanitarian work around the world.

Lisa’s personal and professional philosophy centers on purpose-driven work, a belief that extends into her own company, Purpose Journey® Consulting, Training and Coaching. Through her business, she helps individuals and organizations ground themselves in a strong sense of purpose to deliver positive, lasting impact, often through service to others. She applies that same mindset to her work with the Red Cross.

“There’s nothing like supporting others in moments of need, but also helping to cultivate personal, organizational and community resilience. Sometimes, it’s just about being there—being a caring presence. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard stories from people who have experienced disasters say, ‘As soon as I saw the Red Cross was there, I felt cared for. I felt a sense of security.’ That kind of dedication and empathy that comes from our volunteers is transformational for people who are navigating life’s most challenging experiences.”

Lisa sees volunteering as a gift, not just to those being served, but also to those who serve. She hopes her role as a board member and Tiffany Circle member will inspire others to get involved.

“The people who do this work are heart-centered, compassionate individuals. And one of the great benefits of being involved with the Red Cross is just being surrounded by really wonderful people who care very deeply about others. It's uplifting to me to be around that, especially in today's world.”

Lisa’s lifelong connection to the Red Cross reflects her deep commitment to helping others. From her early days as a young lifeguard and swim instructor to her leadership as a board member and Tiffany Circle member, she has always been driven by a desire to serve. Through her dedication, she hopes to inspire others to get involved in community impact initiatives and make a difference in the lives of those in need.

To learn more about becoming a board member or Tiffany Circle member, visit redcross.org/SouthFlorida.