American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis

Last updated on July 20, 2011

The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Description:
Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers, financial supporters and community partners, the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis reaches one in three households in Central Indiana each year by:

•Providing immediate relief to people affected by disasters and facilitating their long-term recovery;
•Reducing the community’s vulnerability to disaster through planning and education;
•Empowering people with lifesaving training in first aid, CPR, automated external defibrillator, universal precautions and water safety;
•Giving first aid care at community events;
•Serving military families by providing emergency communications and other support to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their loved ones; and
•Meeting special community needs through transportation services and programs for seniors and youth.

History:
In 1863, The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was created in Geneva, Switzerland, to provide nonpartisan care to the wounded and sick in times of war. After witnessing the horrors of the Civil War and realizing the need for a Red Cross society in the United States, Clara Barton organized the American Red Cross in 1881. The American Red Cross soon took its services beyond battlefield assistance by adding disaster relief and emergency preparedness to its lifesaving activities.

The imminence of war brought forth the Indianapolis Red Cross in 1916. That summer, a group of civic leaders felt that the country's entry into the war in Europe was inevitable, and that Indianapolis needed to do its part to prepare. William Fortune, a local newspaperman and visionary, came forward and rallied enough support to establish the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross in a single day.

Citizens throughout Indianapolis jumped at the chance to become a member of the Red Cross for the cost of one dollar. With the support of the community the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross was founded on July 19, 1916 with 3,024 members.
This tradition of organizing people's care and concern into immediate action continues today as a new generation of dedicated volunteers, professional staff, financial supporters, and community and corporate partners devote themselves to the lifesaving work of the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis.

Contact person: Charles Wallace, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (317) 684-4328

Address:

441 E. 10th Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.redcross-indy.org

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: Metro/5, 10

Last updated on July 20, 2011