As a teenager growing up in Lansing, Michael Caruso lived close enough to his high school that he could either walk or ride his bike. Every day on the route he would pass the local American Red Cross chapter. The first time he stopped by to inquire about youth volunteer opportunities proved to be a pivotal life moment. 

In his first role, Caruso worked once a week supporting blood drives. He also enrolled in  first aid classes that eventually led to him becoming a Red Cross instructor. Fast forward to today, 45 years later, Caruso has amassed an accomplished resume of volunteer service with the Red Cross across multiple states. Currently, he is a member of the board of directors for the Northern Michigan Chapter in Traverse City.

“The Red Cross is an appealing organization,” Caruso said. “It does things altruistic at a moment of absolute need. I like the connection between the learning and the helping.”

In those early first aid classes Caruso met members of the local township fire department who took him under their wing, impressed by his ambition and purpose. After graduating from high school, Caruso was invited to join the fire department’s live-in student program for aspiring firefighters as part of his pursuit of a fire science degree at the local community college. Along the way he obtained certification as an emergency medical technician and eventually became a volunteer firefighter for the township.

Caruso recalled his early years as a youth volunteer “the most enjoyable experience at the time.” 

Throughout the years, Caruso has performed a diverse range of roles, from disaster assessment in San Francisco to teaching CPR in Wisconsin. While living in Wisconsin, his wife Jessica served as executive assistant to the region’s executive assistant. He has also volunteered for other organizations in various industries throughout his professional career.

Along the way he amassed a collection of about 50 Red Cross and Red Crescent stamps. “Lots of nations have stamps commemorating the Red Cross so it’s been an interesting thing to collect,” he said.

Caruso, senior vice president of commercial banking for a Traverse City bank, has been a member of the Northern Michigan chapter board for nine years. During this tenure he has served as board chair and presided over the board’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

In his four decades of volunteer service, Caruso has witnessed an overwhelming sense of gratitude from people helped by the Red Cross. It is those experiences that reaffirm many times over that volunteering for the Red Cross is unique and special.  

“The Red Cross brand is pretty powerful,” he said. “Look at what they do and how they do it, and the impact they have. The Red Cross has a very specific, clear mission that I totally buy into. They can do things that other organizations just can’t.”

When the timing is right there is one role Caruso is craving to fill at the Red Cross – deploying to a national disaster. “It’s on my list of things to do when I’m retired and I have the time and can get away for a week or two or three,” he said. “Bunk up and work in a shelter for a couple of weeks. I’ve always wanted to keep my hand in it so I can do that when it’s time.”

By David Olejarz, regional communications director