When most people think of the American Red Cross, they immediately think of the blood mobiles that sit out and collect all different types of blood from people who are willing to donate. But that is not all that the Red Cross is about, and that is certainly not the only donations they solicit.

The American Red Cross is a community driven organization and many of their programs are centered around making communities better. What this means, of course, is that the volunteers and paid professionals working for the Red Cross are getting out there and changing lives in lots of different ways. This can’t happen for free, though, which is why the vehicle donation program has become such a huge focus.

Charity organizations all over the country have started to take notice of the power that goes along with vehicle donation. When someone donates a vehicle to charity, everybody wins and it is the quickest way for a charity like the Red Cross to get lots of funds. Little donations do a great deal to help, but when it comes in big chunks like that, the charity can really get moving.

In places like Washington, D.C., where there are lots of military families, the Red Cross is providing support and hosting events in order to help make the people feel more at home. This wouldn’t be possible without people participating in the vehicle donation program. That is why the charity will continue to push the program going forward, and extol its merits to any people who might have an interest in philanthropy.

While quite a few people might be familiar with the American Red Cross and its car donation program, many of those folks have absolutely no idea what sorts of things the charity is getting involved in with its newly raised funds. After all, if they are getting all of these car donations and selling those cars for proceeds, then they have to be doing something with the money, right?

They aren’t just sitting on the cash, if that’s what you were thinking. In fact, some Girl Scout units around Washington, D.C. have benefited from the car donation proceeds.

The Red Cross and the Girl Scouts of America have had a long standing relationship, and the Red Cross is putting some of their human resources into play to help Girl Scouts learn safety this year. This is one of the ways that the charity is reaching out in the community in order to impact actual lives, instead of just being a community support unit.

Preparing Girl Scouts for the future has been the focus of many of the events held around the D.C. area, and it would not have been possible without the money from car donation drives in Washington. Sending out employees and having all of the training supplies is an expensive task, and many people forget that even non-profit organizations need money for programs, too. Because folks have generously donated a car to the charity, the teaming up with the Girl Scouts of America has been a reality, though.

Through educating people on how to stop the transmission of HIV, encouraging people to respond in informed ways to people who have HIV, and helping people apply the facts about HIV to their own behavior, the American Red Cross Public Health Education Division (PHE) helps save more lives by developing, evaluating, implementing and supporting innovative prevention programs that are easy to use and designed to reach a variety of audiences. They are based on the latest evidence of what makes health education programs effective.

What do ‘car donation, vehicle donation, auto donation, donate my car to charity and donate a car’ have in common with HIV/AIDS? Without the former there could be more of the latter. In other words no funds, no programs. Stark and simple.

AIDS is a leading cause of death among Americans aged 25 to 44. By learning the facts about HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and acting on them, we can protect ourselves and others.

The Basic HIV/AIDS Program uses a variety of learning techniques in sessions specially designed for your community to help people: the fundamentals program delivers facts-based discussion to reinforce information about HIV transmission and prevention, dispel myths about HIV and AIDS, and help participants learn from their own experiences and those of others. Activities encourage people to apply the facts to their own behaviors. The prevention skills program gives practice on how to refuse invitations to have sex or use drugs. Role play can also equip them with ways to talk about using condoms before the situation arises.

Not only are these programs avalable but there is supporting material you might want either for personal reference or as a manual for answering many questions that your children or co-workers might have about HIV/AIDS once you have entered into discussion with them. There is an HIV/AIDS fact book and Reasons to Care: The Many Faces of HIV video uses a documentary style to show people living with HIV infection and the American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Education Folder features artwork representing the four American Red Cross HIV/AIDS programs: Basic, African American, Hispanic and Workplace.

One of the most remarkable services that the Red Cross provides to the community is its training in first aid, CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Volunteers, vehicle donations and auto donations make this service viable. If we face disaster or injury, trained first-aiders will always be required to assess individuals for prioritizing medical response, treating minor wounds and dealing with shock. Knowing that an ARC trained first-aider is on the scene immediately offers reassurance to those who may suddenly find themselves, homeless, helpless and suffering from injuries sustained in escape from fires, building evacuation, traffic incidents or workplace accidents. Any event or incident needs to have a competent first-aider to calm the situation and help restore normality.

Workplaces would be in peril if they didn’t have the personnel trained by the Red Cross to ensure workers’ safety – it’s a standard we can trust. The history of the ARC is embedded in caring for the wounded on the battlefield and nursing in military field camps so it’s no surprise there’s such expertise in their ranks. It’s not just disasters or wars that warrant first-aid training; it’s a useful skill for anyone, just think of how many accidents happen in the home each year that a competent first-aider could deal with effectively. Just as you might think about donating your car, say, you might take up a course to train as a first-aider. Every family should have one!

People trained by the Red Cross are so appreciative of their skills they don’t restrict their first-aid to professional purposes but are willing volunteers when a call is put out for response to an event. Events are where these people are in their element and events cost money. Where does the money come from? It comes from the public generous enough to do things like donate a car to charity or individuals who make a bequest. Wherever money comes from it is put to good use in a variety of services the Red Cross provides. A car donation could provide the sponsorship for a first-aider to be fully trained and how good would that be?

Recently, I was asked to write an article about the programs offered by the American Red Cross. Unfortunately copy word-count limitations meant I was unable to mention all the fantastic programs. I felt it was important to write about the more well known programs that are familiar to people. Re-reading the article, I realized that I still had to give mention to the lesser-known but equally important programs that impact on the everyday lives of citizens all over the country and delivered by the 700 or so Chapters across the nation. Having learned my lesson of lack of copy space I am hereafter going to abandon all efforts at flowing prose and just let the list loose with a quick mention of car donation too.

The Red Cross Advantage when taking up their programs: convenience, cost-effective training, consistency nationwide, complete emergency preparedness, courses developed by experts, certified instructors, participant certification, relief from record-keeping burden, Spanish-language courses.

First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Courses.

Caregiving and Babysitting. (American Red Cross caregiving programs help people develop the skills and knowledge to care for themselves and others).

The Masters of Disaster® series – an educational tool that will teach youth the importance of preparedness while reducing fear of the unexpected. The goal is to empower youth with the confidence and knowledge to prepare for disasters and help create a culture of preparedness.

African American HIV/AIDS Program, Basic HIV/AIDS Program, Hispanic HIV/AIDS Program, Workplace HIV/AIDS Program, HIV/AIDS Programs for Youth.

Swimming: Nearly 2 million people learn to swim each year with American Red Cross programs. Lifeguarding: The American Red Cross trains more than 170,000 lifeguards each year.

Of course, there are programs and workshops organized by local Chapters to meet the particular needs of their communities and the fact they are run means they are needed and serve a worthwhile purpose.

Fundraising programs like the now established donate a car to charity program, that accepts auto donation, car donation, vehicle donation all under the same umbrella is one of the excellent ways to provide the revenue needed for the community programs.

It would probably cost a fortune just in the volunteer extras that would have to be catered for, never mind appearance fees or location costs, which I imagine would be donated for free (as hopefully would the airtime) if the Red Cross ran an ad that showcased all the programs they run. It would probably have to be an infomercial slot; seconds or a few short minutes couldn’t reasonably convey the size of the organization’s work in the community. Try for yourself to name all the programs that the ARC runs. You’d probably be pleased if you could come up with four or five and be quite impressed that they did so much.

So what would most people mention? If they came from a forces background they would undoubtedly mention the emergency communications service, the casualty travel assistance program, counseling for military personnel (active-duty, National Guard and Reserves-and their families) and veterans affairs. At the front of many people’s minds would be the joining of forces with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of the disaster preparation program. How many incidents do you think might be disastrous to a local community? Read the following items on the list:

• blackouts
• chemical emergencies
• droughts
• earthquakes
• fires
• floods
• heat waves
• hurricanes
• mudslides
• pandemic flu
• terrorism
• tornadoes
• thunderstorms
• wildfires
• volcanoes
• and tsunami

I have brought your attention to these in particular because they are the big ones and they do require a lot of funding when they happen. I just have to get in a little buzz for one of the simpler ways of making a donation that raises a lot, and when you think about it – costs you nothing! Should you donate your car, quite a bit of money could result from its sale at auction. You don’t have to rid yourself of your car you use to get to work each day but if you could donate a used car or make some other type of vehicle donation like a boat trailer or camper van, that auto donation can make a significant contribution and if you do donate a car, collection is fast and free.

Programs that are run need funding and there are many ways that the public help from a car donation to enrolling for leadership courses to deliver programs.The American Red Cross, since 1914, has been giving for the best training and tips on how to be safe in, on, and around the water! Nearly 2 million people learn to swim each year with American Red Cross programs that also annually trains more than 170,000 lifeguards. Funds raised from auto donation, for example, directly help the community through such programs. The lifeguard training and first aid certificates are valid for three years (CPR certificates for one year) from the date of completion.

The new American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim classes are designed to give students a positive learning experience and to provide instruction for swimmers of all ages and abilities to develop their swimming and water safety skills such as: water entry and exit, breath control and underwater swimming, buoyancy, changing direction and position, treading water, swimming on front, back and side, general and personal water safety and of course, helping others. By reaching Level 6 in the program students are prepared to participate in more advanced courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training. By continuing to raise funds with novel ideas like vehicle donation you could be setting up the future water safety of your family and your community.

Not everything done by the ARC is in response to a major disaster but even a puddle or a garden pond can present the threat of drowning to any family and that would surely be a disaster. Water safety is an essential. Car maintenance is essential. If your car has passed its ‘sell by date’ the ideal solution is for you to donate your car to the Red Cross or you could also donate a vehicle like a boat on a trailer you no longer have any use for. But, now that you’ve got the whole family water safe through the Red Cross program you might prefer to hold onto the boat and enjoy the waters of our rivers, lakes and coastlines – safely.

It is so hard to find a reliable, trustworthy and competent babysitter but if you engage a sitter who has undergone the Babysitter’s Training course run by ARC providers your mind will be eased knowing you have a safe and responsible babysitter! The course is designed for 11 to 15 year olds and covers areas such as:

• care for children and infants
• being a good leader and role model
• making good decisions and solving problems
• keeping the children you baby-sit and yourself safe
• handling emergencies such as injuries
• illnesses and household accidents

There’s even help with writing resumes and interviewing for jobs.

The course, supported by ten downloadable PDF File resources can be completed in a day. They include a babysitter’s report card, business card templates, family information card, family interview form, parental consent and contact form, resume template, safety inspection checklist, self-assessment tool and an activity booklet.The beauty about any course accredited by the ARC is that the person who participated has been motivated to improve their skills and knowledge, has attended voluntarily and has done the work required to gain certification.

The Babysitter’s Training course is just one of the many programs run by the Red Cross, which relies on charitable donations to support its work in the local community. Appeals are one way of raising funds and often they are short-lived so the background stand-bys like auto donation are essential. There might not be much glamour in accepting vehicle donations and car donations for auction but they do raise considerable sums. Year round the good people who decided, “I’m going to donate my car to charity,” make a difference by ensuring programs like the Babysitter’s Training courses can be delivered, empowering our young people and qualifiying them for serving their community.

If you want to enroll in the Babysitter’s Training course, get in touch with your local Chapter. To find out where that is, log on to the main red cross site at www.redcross.org and under the tab with the map ‘your local red cross’, type in your zip code for your nearest chapter.

A few days ago, I provided a brief biography of this amazing woman who, through her compassion and determination, formed The American Red Cross as an organization, and as a spirit that has left a lasting mark on our nation. Today I want to briefly talk about The Clara Barton Society, which was formed to honor Americans who share the qualities that Clara Barton possessed, and instilled in the organization she founded.

The Clara Barton Society honors your total, annual giving in support of your local Chapter of The American Red Cross. All types of gifts, cash contributions, securities, property, and the value of goods and services, go towards your membership in the Society. The Clara Barton Society recognizes giving at four different levels. First, as a Friend ($1,000-$4,999), second, as a Sponsor ($5,000-$9,999), third, as a Pacesetter ($10,000-$24,999), and fourth, as a Benefactor ($25,000-$49,999).

As a member of The Clara Barton Society, you are an active partner in carrying out the work of The American Red Cross. You will also learn exactly how your contribution is being used to help people in need of services provided by The American Red Cross.

If you are interested in becoming a member of The Clara Barton Society contact your local Chapter of The American Red Cross. They will be happy to provide you with more information, and other ways in which you can contribute to The American Red Cross.

The Clara Barton Society and The Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders highlight what can be achieved when like-minded individuals make a concerted, genuine effort to contribute to their local community. Obviously, donations can take many forms, all of which are greatly appreciated. In addition to more commonly donated items, used cars and vehicles can be particularly valuable as donations.

You do not need to be part of a society to help aid the work of your local Chapter of The American Red Cross. Contributing any amount of time, goods, or money means that you are a part of the difference your local Chapter makes to people in your community.

There are a small number of charitable organizations that are very closely linked to The American Red Cross. Two of the more notable of these are The Clara Barton Society, which I will discuss tomorrow, and The Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders. The society recognizes the influential part women have played throughout the history of The American Red Cross.

The Tiffany Circle, as the Society is often known, is a nationwide leadership network of female leaders and philanthropists who want to change lives, save lives, and strengthen communities through a $10,000 donation to their local Chapter of The American Red Cross. The women of The Tiffany Circle also support their communities through an investment of their time and their abilities.

The name Tiffany, and the donation figure of $10,000 specifically recognize two historical precedents in the history of The American Red Cross. The Circle is named after the beautiful Tiffany windows in the Board of Governor’s Hall at The American Red Cross national headquarters in Washington D.C. The American Red Cross President Mabel Boardman commissioned these windows, produced by the Tiffany Studios, in 1917. The Women’s Relief Corps of the North, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy of the South, each contributed $5,000 in an act of reconciliation and hope, to pay for them.

The women depicted in the Tiffany windows personify the virtues at work in The American Red Cross: hope, mercy, faith, charity, truth and fortitude. Members of The Tiffany Circle provide living examples of these virtues in their own communities, ensuring that their local Chapter has the ability to provide the services required by the local community.

This year The Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders will be holding a leadership summit on the 8th and 9th of June, in Washington D.C. For more information contact Director of Development, Michelle McMullen by phone on (817) 335-9317, ext. 234, or send an email to mcmullenm@usa.redcross.org.

Many of us cannot afford such large donations, but we can help by providing smaller donations of money, clothing, blood, or used cars, and other vehicles. Every donation, no matter how small or large, makes a difference.