Mission

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.

Who We Are

A local, nonprofit organization, the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter helps people recover from disasters and prepare for and prevent them before they strike. Last year the American Red Cross responded to over 600 disasters in the Bay Area. That means that, almost twice a day, people like you went to someone's damaged home to help a family in need. But we don't just wait for disaster to strike. Red Cross volunteers work to prevent and prepare for emergencies by providing education and training for their neighbors and friends, by teaching youth to lead and teach safety skills, and by donating life-saving blood.

Funding

The American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter is an independent, non-profit organization that relies on the generosity of local individuals, corporations and foundations for its financial support. The Red Cross is not a government agency; voluntary contributions are the key to our ability to respond when our neighbors need us most.

The percentage of income Red Cross spends on direct services consistently ranks it among the nation's most well managed non-profit organizations. In 1996, Money Magazine named the Red Cross the No. 1 charity in the nation.

Leadership

The American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that represents the six counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Solano. Each county has an Advisory Board responsible for the development and management of local programs, services and resources.

Since August of 1999, Jim Gilleran, CEO of the Bank of San Francisco, has served in the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Chapter. Locally he has acted as chair of several leadership committees. He is a past recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Metropolitan YMCA and UNICEF's Citizen of the Year Award.

Harold W. Brooks assumed the post of CEO of the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter on October 1, 1997. He brought with him more than 20 years of proven management and leadership experience with particular expertise in chapter revitalization, fundraising, community and international development as well as disaster response. Previous positions include: Metropolitan New Jersey, Executive Director; Metropolitan Atlanta, Manager of Community Services; National Headquarters, Development Officer.

Disaster Services
Disaster response, preparedness, and planning are the top priorities of the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter. Each and every day, the Red Cross responds to an average of nearly two fires or other emergencies in our six county areas. All assistance provided to victims of disaster is free. The Red Cross provides emergency assistance which can include food, shelter and medical care as well as funds for essential household furnishings, rent, clothing, minor home repairs, occupational tools, and health needs.

Last year, the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter helped over 900 families suffering loss after a disaster.

Health and Safety Services
The American Red Cross is well known for its health and safety courses. Each year the American Red Cross conducts classes that stress accident prevention, injury control, and emergency response such as CPR and Standard First Aid. Red Cross also offers swimming and water safety classes, lifeguarding courses, as well as child care and babysitting instruction.

In the Bay Area, the American Red Cross has been a leader in HIV/AIDS education, developing the first comprehensive, multimedia HIV/AIDS prevention program designed specifically for Hispanic youth and families.

The Red Cross is visible at health fairs promoting the importance of health education, provides first aid stations at community events like Bay-to-Breakers, county fairs and outdoor concerts and offers free cholesterol and blood pressure screening in dozens of neighborhoods on a regular basis. During FY 2000/01, our chapter's health and safety programs trained more than 95,000 local Bay Area residents in lifesaving and water safety skills.

Youth Services
The Red Cross provides services and opportunities to Bay Area youth through its annual Leadership Development Center, Youth for Chinatown Elderly program, and its Y.E.S. Teams (Youth Emergency Services). Youth Services has three goals: to provide service and life skills to youth; to provide opportunities for youth to serve others; and to develop leaders who will contribute to the well-being of society through paid or volunteer work in Red Cross.

During FY 2000/01, Youth Services programs attracted over 700 young volunteers whose contributions of time and creativity touched more that 53,000 lives.

International Services
The International Social Services program of the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter serves as a vital link between Bay Area residents and their families abroad. Through International Services, Bay Area families dislocated by war, civil unrest and other world conditions receive help locating and communicating with loved ones. As part of a politically neutral and impartial humanitarian organization, the Red Cross Holocaust and War Victim Tracing and Information Center helps people find out the fate of loved ones believed to have been lost in World Wars or forced labor camps.

The Red Cross also assists with financial and medical aid during international disasters and helps provide a way for families to communicate around the world during times of disaster. Other services include providing information and referral services for newly arrived families. During this past fiscal year alone, our caseworkers conducted nearly 600 international disaster welfare inquiries and presented information on International Humanitarian Law and other programs to nearly 800 Bay Area Residents.

Social Services
American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter caseworkers provide many services for low or fixed income individuals who may be facing eviction. These services, part of the Homelessness Prevention Program, include landlord/tenant dispute mediation, client advocacy, financial counseling, and rental assistance.

Many of our service centers also provide transportation for physically challenged and elderly people, Braille transcription services, help for newly arrived refugees or immigrants, language classes, assistance with tax preparation, language bank services and delivery of food and personal care items to shut-ins and needy families. During FY 2000/01 this chapter's community outreach programs assisted more than 60,000 local residents in need.

Service to Armed Forces, Veterans and Military Families
The American Red Cross is the emergency communication link between members of the Armed Forces and their families. To communicate a birth, death, illness, breakdown in child care or accident, the Red Cross has a worldwide communications network that reaches service members on land and at sea. The Red Cross also helps out with humanitarian reassignments, hardship discharges, and counseling for military families experiencing financial or personal problems. During FY 2000/01, our chapter served over 1,600 military families in the Bay Area.

Blood Services
The American Red Cross provides over half the nation's blood supply, operating 45 blood regions across the country. The American Red Cross operates blood banks in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Blood As Medicine

	·	Three patients can benefit from a single donation.
	·	Red Blood Cells are often used for patients who require surgery, have anemia (low iron), or kidney disease.
	·	Platelets are use to control bleeding in patients whose bone marrow produces too few platelets - patients such as those with leukemia, or are undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
	·	Plasma and its derivatives are used for the treatment of hemophilia or shock or to treat diseases such as hepatitis.

Who Needs Blood

	·	Someone needs blood every three seconds in the United States
		Accident victims; Surgery patients; Seriously-ill newborns; Burn victims; Patients with diseases such as leukemia, sickle cell or aplastic anemia; Patients with conditions such as anemia (low iron) and hemophilia.

Requirements For Donating Blood

	·	Donors must be at least 17 years old
	·	There is no upper age limit for donating
	·	Donors must weigh 110 lbs. Or more
	·	Donors must be in general good health

Other Suggestions

	·	Get a good night's sleep before donating
	·	Eat breakfast (and/or lunch if necessary) the day of the blood drive
	·	Drink plenty of water or other fluids
	·	Donate with a friend
	·	When you give blood you receive a mini-physical. It can help you too!
	·	Relax and enjoy the experience

Fremont/Newark Location 39227 Cedar Blvd., Cedar Village Shopping Center, Newark Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Oakland Location 6230 Claremont Avenue Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 7:30a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Pleasonton Hill Location 140 Gregory Lane, Suite 120 Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 7:30a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Pleasonton Location 5556-B Springdale Avenue Monday: Closed Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 7:30a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

CALL 1-800-GIVE-LIFE To schedule an appointment or to find the blood drive nearest you.