Celebrating National Volunteer Week: CEO Letter to Volunteers

Dear Volunteer,

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 21-27, 2013), I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for working tirelessly to fulfill the American Red Cross mission.

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities; day in and day out, you do all that and more.

Our region has more than 7,000 volunteers from all walks of life. You come together with one common purpose—to provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Considering that our region is the nation’s largest—home to more than 13 million people—that is a tremendous task.

Red Cross volunteers like you are always ready to step in and help people down the street, across the nation and around the world.

Last year, you helped us bring lifesaving safety courses such as first aid, CPR, babysitting and care giving to more than 100,000 people. You helped us serve veterans, members of the military and their families. You supported our critical mission-related work through general office support. And you helped us provide food, shelter, comfort and hope to more than 12,000 area residents affected by over 2,300 local disasters. From house fires to floods—you were there.

Last, but hardly least, you stepped in and gave your time, energy and compassion for days, weeks and months to help thousands of people affected by Superstorm Sandy, and continue to do so.

On behalf of everyone throughout our region, I send a heartfelt “Thank You!”

Sincerely,
Josh Lockwood
Regional CEO