By Bill Thawley

Many of us know that Henri Dunant founded the International Red Cross and Clara Barton founded the American National Red Cross. However, forward progress required more than just individual effort for both founders. They both realized that to bring their concept to fruition, they needed the help of others. As they became successful, they found that teamwork wins.

Dunant Engages Public Health Allies

Henri Dunant was witness to the carnage of the battlefield of Sofrino with more than 40,000 dead and wounded. He organized the local population to care for the wounded. As a result, Dunant wrote a book on this experience and his ideas for change. The book was brought to the attention of the Geneva Society for Public Welfare. A sub-committee was formed which included Henri Dunant and four others. Members were Guillaume-Henri Dufour a famous Swiss army general, Gustav Moynier a lawyer and chair of the Geneva Society of Public Welfare, Louis Appia a physician and field surgeon, and Theodur Maunoir of the Geneva Hygiene and Health Commission. This group decided to form a society to accomplish Dunant’s goals.

The Red Cross Comes to the US

Following the foundation of the international society, Clara Barton met with Dr. Louis Appia in the early 1870s on her visit to Europe. He persuaded her to go back to America and start a society there. She did not accomplish this alone. She lit fires under many famous and not- so-famous people of her time. Her group consisted of Congressmen, Senators, and the American President. One of her supporters was Walter Polk Phillips, a very well-known newsman of the time, later an officer of the Red Cross. He created the Phillips System. Another co-founder of the American Red Cross is Adolphus S. Solomons. He was a strong supporter with numerous contacts in the Federal Government. Many of the early meetings were held in his parlor in Washington, D.C.

Clara Barton also had a group of friends in Dansville, New York, who gave her support. Physicians from both sides of the Civil War also helped. Many newspapermen and telegraphers endorsed the new organization. It is interesting to note that Stephen Barton, her nephew, was a telegrapher.

Fifty-one people signed the Red Cross Constitution. Supporters who did not sign were Susan B.Anthony (a best friend of Clara), Senator Henry Congers (Ohio, a firm advocate in the Senate), and Frederick Douglass. However, the civil rights pioneer was a good friend, who signed the Articles of Incorporation of the American Red Cross.

Our Heritage, Our Engagement

Today, American Red Cross consists of many specialized teams. We are all part of those teams and contribute in various ways. No matter what skill or how much time we contribute, it all adds up to delivery of our Red Cross mission.

Along with your actual service, please do not forget to add 15 minutes for reading an email, putting in your time for an event, or any other task. Our donors see this information in annual reports. Of course, we cannot deliver our mission without their monetary support.

Whether we are volunteers, employees, supporters, or donors we all work together to accomplish the mission as part of the overall Team. Together, we must all be in sync to support our organization. Now more than ever, the Red Cross continues to move forward in our challenging times. So let us engage with the team and advance for humanity’s benefit. It is part of our organization’s DNA.