South Florida Red Cross

From earning her first Red Cross babysitting certification at 11 to becoming a certified lifeguard and water safety instructor, Lisa Gruenloh, MPAP, CPC’s journey with the Red Cross has come full circle. Now, as a board member for the Florida Gulf Coast to Heartland Chapter and a proud Tiffany Circle member, she continues to make an impact in her community. Her experiences attending the Tiffany Circle Summits, meeting incredible humanitarian leaders and witnessing the power of the Red Cross firsthand have deepened her commitment to the mission. She believes that volunteering is not only a gift to those in need but also a transformative experience for those who serve. “There’s nothing like supporting others in moments of need but also helping to cultivate personal, organizational and community resilience,” Lisa shared. ? You, too, can join Lisa in making a difference! Read more about Lisa's story on our blog: https://lnkd.in/gmykxngc

We are deeply grateful to Swanee DiMare & The Paul J. DiMare Foundation for their generous support as Philanthropic Sponsors of the 40th American Red Cross Ball and 5th Party in Red. ?? Their unwavering generosity and commitment to the American Red Cross have made a profound impact over the years. As longtime supporters and members of the Chairman’s Council, they have continuously championed our mission, even chairing the Red Cross Ball in 2003 and 2006. Their dedication helps us provide hope and relief to those in need, ensuring that South Florida communities are stronger in times of crisis. Thank you for your incredible support and humanitarian spirit! ??

Would you like to support our Community Adaptation Program? ?? The Red Cross is currently seeking a Community Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinator in Lee County, Florida, to help lead a groundbreaking new program. This position reports to the Lee County Community Disaster Risk Reduction Manager and is responsible for building and overseeing a community partner network and workforce to help cope with the climate crisis. To apply, visit: https://lnkd.in/e3ZnRkNk

As Kentucky communities face the long road to recovery ahead after the severe flooding, our very own Johan Reyes is among many Red Cross volunteers that have deployed to assist. Johan is deployed as the Assistant Director of Operations and is working hard with her teams to ensure that we are helping people and providing hot meals, safe shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, health services and financial assistance. Alongside our partners, the Red Cross has already provided almost 3,600 overnight shelter stays and more than 42,000 meals and snacks. To date, more than 15,500 relief items including comfort kits and other supplies have been provided to people in need and more than 7,400 households have been served. To learn more about our response, visit redcross.org

We value each and every single one of our community partners and our collaboration is key for making South Florida safer. We’ve had the pleasure of working with Clay Pacheco and Broward County Emergency Management on several occasions - most recently, the floods that displaced Broward County residents and damaged entire neighborhoods last June. Clay and his team encourage everyone to volunteer this #MarchIsRedCrossMonth ?? to sign up, visit redcross.org/SFLvolunteer

This #MarchIsRedCrossMonth you can encourage your students to get involved with the American Red Cross while they're still in school ?? Across several schools in South Florida, our Red Cross Clubs engage with key national and international issues. They encourage others to learn lifesaving skills with a CPR class, might work to fight measles in Africa or respond to local or national disasters. Red Cross clubs allows local students to address important issues in incredibly creative ways that make sense for our community. Whether you are a youth in elementary, middle, or high school, we have tons of resources for you to start and maintain a Red Cross Club in your school, as well as show you all the opportunities that the Red Cross has to offer youth! To learn more about Red Cross clubs and youth programs, visit redcross.org/youth

?? We're looking for a Duty Officer! ?? Most of the 60,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are local, personal disasters like home fires. The Disaster Action Team (DAT) Duty Officer ensures timely activation and monitoring of local and regional DAT responses. Want to make an impact on your community? Apply now at https://lnkd.in/gB2KCkPf

Thanks to our Sound the Alarm rally last week that took place in the Westgate neighborhood of West Palm Beach, Fla., Exon Velazquez and his grandmother Violeta Molina are now safer with not one, but two (!!!) brand new smoke alarms installed in their home! ?? Exon, 24, and his 70-year-old grandmother hadn't even realized their existing smoke alarm was no longer working. Luckily, members from the Red Cross and local community partners knocked on their door and were able to test their smoke alarms and educate them on fire safety. "I want to thank Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the American Red Cross for installing the new smoke alarms for my family's safety and protection," said Exon. Violeta said "I'm very happy and thankful that they came by and let me know the smoke alarms needed to be replaced in our home." This initiative is about more than just smoke alarms—it's about making our communities safer and ensuring local families are prepared for any disaster. To learn more, visit soundthealarm.org

To help us celebrate #RedCrossMonth, we hosted our 40th American Red Cross Ball: A Ruby Jubilee and 5th Party in Red on Saturday, March 3! ?? The milestone event welcomed nearly 400 guests – including community leaders, philanthropists, sponsors and donors – and raised essential funds to support the local Red Cross mission. The Ruby Jubilee paid tribute to the lasting impact of the past 40 years of Ball Chairs, whose dedication helped shape the legacy of the South Florida Red Cross. After the Ball, Party in Red – the official afterparty – welcomed emerging philanthropists for a high-energy evening of music and networking. The 40th American Red Cross Ball and 5th Party in Red would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. A special thank you to Trish and Dan Bell, Swanee DiMare and The Paul DiMare Foundation, Bacardi, Jose Milton Foundation, EdgeUno, Cynthia and Ron Williams, Citadel, Ryder System, Inc., Bilzin Sumberg, Florida Power & Light, Kevin and Adrian Newell, Polsinelli, TECO, Xerox, Bomnin Chevrolet, Galleria Farms, Republic National Distributing Company, Rosana and Dominic Chinigo, Lavender Greenberg Estate Planning & Probate Law, Gedeon Luxe Co and Print e Solutions for their incredible contributions to our mission. For more information on how to support the American Red Cross, visit redcross.org/SouthFlorida.

Each Friday in March, our friends at Cumberland Farms and Tom Thumb are honoring Red Crossers with a FREE cup of coffee as part of (Brand’s) support of Red Cross Month. ?? Thank you, Cumberland Farms and Tom Thumb, for fueling our volunteers and inviting customers to donate at the register this month to support our lifesaving mission! #RedCrossMonth #HelpCantWait