“I believe we are put on this planet to help others, lift them up, and give them hope. Once I saw and experienced the difference that the Red Cross makes in the lives of others during their darkest hours, I was hooked.”
Elaine Lyerly (pictured right) has been a dedicated Red Cross volunteer for over 40 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles locally, nationally and internationally. As part of her volunteer work, Elaine has traveled all around the world to serve.
“I was in a tiny village outside of Nairobi where the Red Cross had a goat project. These goats enabled women to feed their families with milk twice a day. Mothers showed up to greet us, many of them holding their goats like babies. They were so grateful. This project literally changed their lives.”
Today, Elaine reflects back to the experiences like the one in Nairobi as inspiration to expand women’s philanthropy around the globe in her role as the Founding Chair and current Co-Chair of the Tiffany Circle International Council.
“Being on the ground floor in 2006 to help launch and grow the Tiffany Circle, our women’s philanthropy program, was especially meaningful. And now, providing leadership for international expansion enables women who are passionate about our mission to connect around the world. When women come together, powerful things happen. We are the catalyst for change.”