Oshkosh, WI...March 1, 2010- With March proclaimed as Red Cross Month by President Barack Obama, our six Northeast WI Chapters are recognizing and thanking supporters and volunteers whose efforts enable the Red Cross to respond to disasters down the street, across the country and around the world.

"The Red Cross works tirelessly to be there with help and hope when people need it most-and we are grateful for the public support that enables us to continue our work - here at home and abroad," said Steve Hansen, our Regional Chapter Executive. "Our community and our nation depend on the Red Cross in times of need, and the Red Cross depends on the support of people in American to achieve its mission."

"During Red Cross Month, we especially want to recognize the valuable supporters whose generosity makes the work of the American Red Cross possible," Hansen added. "In addition, Red Cross Month is a great time for people to get involved with the Red Cross, such as donating blood; signing up for a CPR, first aid or another Red Cross course; giving a financial gift that can really save the day when the next disaster strikes, or getting involved as a volunteer."

The Red Cross provides shelter, food, comfort and hope to survivors of nearly 70,000 disasters each year; helps prepare communities for emergencies; is the largest single provider of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills to more than 5 million people a year; supports military members and their families, and provides international humanitarian aid.

The American Red Cross touches the lives of millions of people every year through its network of 34,000 employees and more than 600,000 volunteers in more than 2,000 locations across the United States and more than 30 countries around the world.

While the Red Cross has responded following the Haiti earthquake in January, working to turn despair into hope, we are also here each day across the country for families who need us locally.

Although major disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires capture national media headlines, the day-to-day work of the Red Cross often takes place in local communities. In the past year, the trained volunteers respond to local emergencies on the average of every-other day, assisted thousands of military families and trained more than 44,000 people in lifesaving skills.  And, people from this area donated 34,549 units of blood.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation in 1943, recognizing the American Red Cross as a true reflection of the humanitarian and volunteer spirit and calling on Americans to "rededicate themselves to the splendid aims and activities of the Red Cross."  Every president since that time has recognized the work of the Red Cross with a Red Cross Month. President Obama signed the 2010 Red Cross Month proclamation on February 25.

Throughout our Region, we have a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month in March, including open houses, Chapter tours, volunteer training programs, blood drives and more.

The Northeast Wisconsin American Red Cross is a regional grouping of six chapters serving 19 counties with a mission to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters throughout the East Central Wisconsin, Fond du Lac County, Lakeland, Manitowoc/Calumet, Neenah-Menasha and Outagamie Chapters. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the Northeast region at 920-231-3590 or visit www.NewRedCross.org

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to survivors  of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; 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 mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.