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Grounded in Tradition, Changing the Future
The Red Cross is providing a forum for women leaders to join together and make an impact on their communities and on the nation.
By Georgette Saad and Sarah Marchetti, Red Cross National Headquarters
Tuesday, July 03, 2007 — More than 150 women and girls gathered in Washington, D.C., last month to celebrate the leadership and commitment that women bring to the American Red Cross and the difference they make in America's communities.
Red Cross Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and Tiffany Circle Chairman Melanie Sabelhaus present Peg Knight with a special bracelet to commemorate her gift to the Tiffany Circle.
The youngest member of the Tiffany Circle, Pendleton Bogache, poses in front of one of the Tiffany windows at American Red Cross National Headquarters.
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The get-together marked the founding of the Tiffany Circle, a group of women leaders and philanthropists who have given at least $10,000 to support their local Red Cross chapter. Founded by Red Cross Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and Board of Governors member Melanie Sabelhaus, the Tiffany Circle raised $3 million for eight Red Cross chapters in the past year.
"There's always been a strong female presence in the Red Cross," said Peg Knight, a Red Cross volunteer for more than 60 years and, at age 87, one of the oldest founding members of the Tiffany Circle.
"The Red Cross and America have always been led by women of humanitarian action and great compassion," echoed McElveen-Hunter. "Women enjoy a long history of joining hands to make their communities stronger. Through the Tiffany Circle, we renew our commitment and our pledge to the mothers, daughters and sisters across this great country as we together reach out to those most in need."
The name "Tiffany Circle" and the $10,000 membership level have historical precedents. The circle is named for the striking Tiffany windows in the Board of Governors Hall at Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The windows were commissioned in 1917 by former Red Cross President Mabel Boardman and purchased with a $5,000 gift from the Women's Relief Corps of the North and a $5,000 gift from the United Daughters of the Confederacy of the South.
The Women of the Circle
Members of the Tiffany Circle span several generations. Peg Knight began working with the Red Cross as a Motor Corps driver in 1943, when her husband was called to serve in World War II. Betsy Wills, a newcomer to the Red Cross family, joined the Tiffany Circle because the Red Cross appealed to her passion for women's history and because she could sympathize with those who had lost everything in a house fire, the most common disaster the Red Cross responds to each year.
"My parents' house burned down when I was 20, around Christmas time," she said. "I know the feeling of losing everything and can only imagine how that must feel without resources like insurance and family and close friends to lean on. That's why the role of the Red Cross is so important."
At the age of 10, Pendleton Bogache is the youngest member of the Tiffany Circle. A rising sixth grader, Pendleton wants to give back to her community though her gift to the Tiffany Circle.
"[The Tiffany Circle] sounded like it would make an impact on the world and the United States," she said. "I thought it would be neat to give back to my community and help out. It's important to get started at a young age, because later in life you can go on to do better things."
Summit of Women Leaders
During their two-day gathering, Tiffany Circle members exchanged ideas about the program and discussed future initiatives for the coming years. They also took a tour of the White House given by Fran Townsend, assistant to the President for homeland security and counterterrorism, and conversed over lunch with former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Pendleton Bogache said the best part of the gathering was a story shared by Ken Thompson, the son of a victim of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. He spoke about how the Red Cross supported him and his family in the weeks following the bombing. He was so moved that he joined as a volunteer and was sent to help the families of the victims of the World Trade Center attack.
"That story was so touching," Pendleton said. "It took him two years to find out he belonged at the Red Cross. People all over the U.S. have stories like that."
Having returned to their communities, members of the Tiffany Circle will continue to support their Red Cross chapter through annual donations of $10,000. The donations will be used to help the Red Cross continue the work of Clara Barton, providing relief from disasters and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
The Tiffany Circle is a powerful example of how women can provide leadership in their communities and around the world. Will you join the members of the Tiffany Circle in supporting your local Red Cross chapter?
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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