Founder

• The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton in 1881, after she journeyed to Europe and toured the Swiss Red Cross. She campaigned for an American Red Cross, which she ran successfully for 23 years as it helped its first disaster and war survivors.
  
  

Service Areas

• According to the American Red Cross, they offer their assistance in five specific areas: community help for the poor, support services for military families, blood drives, safety training such as CPR and first aid and international humanitarian programs.
  
  

Disaster Relief

• Through the American Red Cross, people are trained to help their neighbors in times of a crisis, whether their neighbors are across the street or across the ocean. In the case of the Hurricane Recovery Program, millions of people volunteered their time and services so the Red Cross could open up almost 1,500 evacuation shelters for 450,000 survivors.
  
  

Blood Banks

• According to the American Red Cross, around four million Americans donate blood to one of their blood banks each year, making it the leading supplier in the nation. The Red Cross also lists victims who are need of blood on their website.
  
  

Donations

• Around 90 cents of every dollar goes toward one of the Red Cross's disaster or educational programs, such as helping victims of floods or hurricanes in the Disaster Relief Fund.