The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. It does this through services that are consistent with its congressional charter and the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement.

Description:
The American Red Cross is the instrument chosen by Congress to help carry out the obligations assumed by the United States under certain international treaties known as the Geneva or Red Cross Conventions.

Specifically, its congressional charter imposes on the American Red Cross the duties to act as the medium of voluntary relief and communication between the American people and their armed forces and to carry on a system of national and international relief to prevent and mitigate suffering caused by disasters. All the activities of the American Red Cross and its chapters support these duties.

Nationally and locally, the American Red Cross is governed by volunteers. Volunteers perform most of its duties and it is financed by voluntary contributions.

In addition to the requirement that all units of the American Red Cross must comply with the provisions of the corporate charter, bylaws, Code of Procedure, and policies adopted or approved by the Board of Governors, key resource chapters, blood services regions, and headquarters and field units of the national sector, their volunteer and paid staff leaders are accountable to the corporation for their performance in accordance with established performance standards developed under the authority of the President with opportunity for review and comment by the units and leaders affected.

History:
History of the SEPA Chapter

The current Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter was formed on January 22, 1916. Prior to this there had been other Red Cross activities in Philadelphia. In 1885, the Associate Society of the Red Cross of Philadelphia was organized and continued until 1890.
The most notable service rendered by this founding organization was their help in relief operations to victims of the 1889 Johnstown Flood.

It is noteworthy that Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, visited Philadelphia in 1898 to attend a reception and banquet in her honor by the local Red Cross Society. The society was reorganized in 1906 as the American Red Cross, Pennsylvania Branch, headquartered in Independence Hall. In 1907 the branch raised funds to aid victims of nine disasters, including the Chinese Famine and the San Francisco Earthquake. In 1909 the society was again reorganized and called the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Red Cross, which formed the nucleus of the more than 40 suburban chapters that banded together as branches to form the Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Chapter.

The SEPA Chapter is financed by our own fundraising campaigns and the United Way. We have 140 staff to insure continuity of service and to provide technical direction and training for our volunteers. The major services we offer are international services, emergency services, health and safety training, health and safety sales, youth services, blood support services and financial development services.

Today, the SEPA Chapter serves an area of 2,000 square miles in which almost 3.5 million people live and work. It includes Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, and Delaware counties (excepting services covered by Lower Bucks and Chester-Wallingford Chapters).

Contact people:

Sharon Jefferson, Manager, Volunteer Support Services, (phone), (email) Melissa Hunsberger, Program Specialist, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (215) 405-8518

Address:

23rd & Chestnut Streets Philadelphia, PA 19103 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.redcross-philly.org

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: 42, 2 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	No