The American Red Cross today recognized American Express for its support of the Red Cross volunteer workforce. Through a grant of $100,000, American Express will help enhance the recruitment, training and engagement of disaster volunteers who respond to emergencies in four communities – Fort Lauderdale, Florida; New York, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; and Salt Lake City, Utah. These communities are home to major American Express operations centers.
“Our Red Cross volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. These women and men are dedicated, highly trained individuals, from all walks of life, who are always ready to deliver hope and help when disaster strikes. We are grateful for this generous gift from American Express, which will provide critical training for our Disaster Volunteer Workforce to more effectively support communities impacted by disasters,” said Jose Dominguez, regional volunteer services officer, American Red Cross Greater New York Region.
“We believe volunteers are the heart of our communities, especially during disasters. We are proud to back the Red Cross with a grant to recruit disaster response volunteers and help it fulfill its mission in the communities where our colleagues live and work,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation.
American Express also serves as a member of the Red Cross Disaster Responder program. Disaster Responder members pledge donations year-round, in advance of major disasters, to ensure the Red Cross can respond immediately with comfort and care whenever and wherever disasters occur, help families during the recovery process, and ensure communities come better prepared for the next disaster.
Each year, the Red Cross responds to more than 62,000 disasters across the United States, including home fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and wildfires. Constituting nearly 90% of the humanitarian workforce of the Red Cross, our volunteers respond to disasters nearly 170 times a day nationwide. Red Cross services are provided to people in need of assistance at no cost and regardless of income through the generosity of Red Cross donors.
About American Express
American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, Instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/American-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress. Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, InAuth, corporate card, business travel, and corporate responsibility.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.