American Red Cross

The American Red Cross (pronounced: əˈmɛrɪkən rɛd krɔːs), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster management in the United States.

Etymology

The name "American Red Cross" is derived from the organization's emblem, a red cross on a white background, which is itself a reversal of the Swiss flag (a white cross on a red background), in honor of Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman who inspired the formation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

History

The American Red Cross was established on May 21, 1881, by Clara Barton, who became its first president. The organization was later chartered by Congress in 1900 to "carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same."

American Red Cross

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