Clara Barton was a strong-willed, intelligent woman who knew what she wanted and found ways to accomplish her goals. In honor of International Women’s Month and Red Cross Month, we are spotlighting one of SEPA’s own amazing women, Jeanne Vissa. She is a 2023 winner of SEPA’s Helping Hand Award and was recognized at the Celebration of Volunteers in December. Jeanne has volunteered as a Biomed Transportation Specialist and Scheduling Lead for the past 4 years.
Why the Helping Hand?
The Helping Hand Award recognizes a volunteer who has stepped up when the SEPA Region had a specific need and has shown generous responsiveness and given reliable, exemplary service. In her lead role, Jeanne analyzes and highlights open shifts for Biomed Transportation and proactively communicates openings to the transportation volunteers. These volunteers are the vital link in moving Red Cross donated from blood drives to the Philadelphia Blood Donation Center for processing, then moving blood products from the Center to hospitals across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
According to her award nomination, Jeanne not only excels in scheduling, but she also extends her responsibilities to hospital delivery shifts while still fulfilling her original role of component pickups. She took the initiative to try hospital deliveries, opting for less preferred shifts like late afternoons or early evenings, which contributed significantly to the department’s operational success. The result of Jeanne’s work was a significantly increased shift fill rate.
A Professional Life of Service
Prior to her joining the Red Cross, Jeanne spent her career in education, much of the time as a school principal.
“My first teaching job was in a school where the principal valued and noticed teamwork," she explained. "In my Red Cross experience, I see the same."
Jeanne notes that her team's leaders – Jim, Ben, Mike and others – consistently show their appreciation for the work volunteers do.
"I try to communicate that appreciation to others, not only in my collection and distribution work, but also in the role of communicating to the team weekly about our urgent needs. We bounce ideas off of one another, always with the idea of improving people’s experience," she shared.
Personal Interests
Jeanne lives with two senior cats, Folly and MeMe. She is the honorary grandmother to a family with four children, sometimes taking care of them overnight when the parents work out of town. She is an avid attendee of dance performances in Philadelphia and travels to the New York City Ballet six times a year. She also teaches an English as a Second Language class two nights a week.
To learn about volunteer opportunities at the American Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.
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Editor’s Note: In commemoration of Red Cross Month and Women’s History Month, we are publishing a series of #LeadLikeClara profiles featuring local women volunteer leaders who emulate the leadership characteristics of Red Cross founder Clara Barton.
PHOTO: Jeanne Vissa (second from right) receives the Helping Hand Award during the Red Cross Celebration of Volunteers event on Dec. 6, 2023 at Springfield Country Club. She is pictured (from left) with Delaware Valley Board of Directors Chair John Susanin, Regional CEO Jennifer Graham and Philadelphia Board of Directors Chair Larry Pockers. Photo by Bill Thawley/American Red Cross
- Written by Maureen Zug
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