The American Red Cross Invites New Volunteers to Get Involved During National Volunteer Week

WASHINGTON, Monday, April 28, 2008 —

It is National Volunteer Week—a time at the American Red Cross to recognize volunteers and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism. 

"I am thrilled to volunteer for the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet,” said award-winning actress Marlee Matlin.  “I've seen first hand the amazing difference that volunteers can make.  I'm eager to continue to do everything I can to help the American Red Cross and encourage the American public to support the Red Cross by giving time, blood and money so that they can carry out their lifesaving mission."   Marlee Matlin has taped several Red Cross public service announcements on preparedness and CPR as a member of the celebrity cabinet since 2002.

Volunteers may work for free, but volunteers will tell you that they are well-compensated.  Volunteers contend that the reward for their work is not money, but is, instead, the satisfaction of helping others, active involvement in the community and the friendships that form through volunteer work. 

At the Red Cross, hundreds of thousands of volunteers help people affected by domestic and international disasters, support blood drives, teach lifesaving skills and serve members of the military and their families. 

Without volunteers, the Red Cross could not complete its mission to provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Please join in this life-saving work.  Contact your local Red Cross office and become a volunteer.  Go to www.redcross.org to find the Red Cross office nearest you.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.