AMERICAN RED CROSS
The American Red Cross is the largest humanitarian organization in the United States. Founded by Clara Barton in Washington, D.C., in 1881, the American Red Cross was chartered by Congress 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 preventing the same." Today, the American Red Cross has more than 700 chapters and one million volunteers across the United States. The organization relies almost entirely on charitable gifts to carry out its programs and services, which include disaster relief, service to the armed forces, blood and tissue services, and health and safety services. Of donations made to the American Red Cross, approximately 91 cents of each dollar is spent directly to help people in need.
American Express also has a long history of helping people in times of trouble. The professionals at our many travel offices around the world have welcomed countless travelers over the last century -- helping stranded people return home, aiding victims of thefts replace their Travelers Cheques (and, more recently, credit and charge cards), placing calls, finding people and generally assisting during emergency situations in any number of ways.
Underscoring our tradition in this area, American Express has incorporated this priority into its philanthropic activities, as evidenced by the funds the company and individual employees have provided to deliver humanitarian relief to victims of numerous disasters -- including wild fires in Arizona and California, tornadoes in Alabama and Minnesota, floods in Hungary, Romania, Bangladesh, Argentina, Canada, China and South Korea, famines in Africa, and earthquakes in India, Turkey and Taiwan. The majority of American Express' aid has been delivered through the American Red Cross, including assistance for over 50 disasters in 35 countries.
