| Last updated on August 8, 2007 |
The mission of the Bluegrass Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is to improve quality of life; enhance self-reliance and concern for others; provide relief to victims of disaster; and to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Description:
The Bluegrass Area Chapter of the American Red Cross provides relief to victims of single family disasters such as fires; public education on disaster preparedness to families, neighborhoods, and groups; communication and comfort to military families during times of crisis; assistance for local veterans with forms, benefits, and letters from the VA; classes everyday in CPR, First Aid, Aquatics, Babysitting, and even Pet First Aid; transportation for Lexington residents who are disabled or elderly through the Wheels program; and communication to international families during a disaster or conflict.
History:
American Red Cross founder, Clara Barton, first learned about the Geneva Convention and the Red Cross Movement (then protecting only the injured on battlefields) during travel in Europe (1869-1873) where she briefly served as a Red Cross volunteer during the Franco-Prussian War (1870). After returning to the United States, she initiated a concerted effort to gain US ratification of the Geneva Convention.
At the same time, Barton focused her attention to the formation of an American Red Cross organization. On May 21, 1881, Barton created what was then called the "American Association of the Red Cross."
In 1900, Congress granted the American Red Cross its first federal charter. Acknowledging the Geneva Convention and America's ratification of it, the charter established the American National Red Cross as the agency to "carry out the purposes" of the Convention in the United States. The charter was revised in 1905, and still stands today.
The relationship between the American Red Cross and the federal government is unique. The American Red Cross is an independent organization that is organized and exists as a non-profit, tax exempt, charitable organization pursuant to a charter granted to it by the United States Congress. Unlike other congressionally chartered organizations, the Red Cross maintains a special relationship with the federal government. It has the legal status of "a federal instrumentality" due to its charter requirements to carry out responsibilities delegated to it by the federal government. Despite this close relationship, the American Red Cross is not a federal agency, nor does it receive federal funding on a regular basis to carry out its services and programs.
Contact person: Deanna Merideth, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (859) 254-8354
Address:
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1450 Newtown Pike
Lexington, KY 40511
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.redcrosslexky.org
Directions:
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From New Circle Road: Take exit 9B (going toward I-64/75). Go past three traffic lights. Turn right onto Olivia Lane. The first driveway on the right is the Bluegrass Area Chapter.
From the Winchester Area: Take I-64 West to I-75 North. Take exit 115 (Airport, Lexington, Newtown Pike). Turn left on to Newtown Pike. Go past three traffic lights. Just past the third traffic light, turn left on to Olivia Lane. The first driveway on the right is the Bluegrass Area Chapter. |
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