On May 21, 1881, a small group of concerned citizens met with Clara Barton in our nation's capitol to form the "American National Society of the Red Cross."
The aims of this society were to assure the well-being of our nation's citizens engaged in military activities or during emergencies, and to promote the humane treatment of prisoners-of war.
The American Red Cross has grown to become known as the greatest humanitarian organization in the world, recognized for dozens of essential services to the people of this country...and the world.
Red Cross is the world's leading provider of lifesaving blood and blood products...which are freely given by volunteer organizations and Red Cross donors throughout the world. As America's largest volunteer organization, Red Cross is deeply committed to community services and education in such diverse fields as first aid, water safety, health, babysitting and disaster education.
Shortly after the organization's founding in 1881, the American Red Cross began to have an impact on the Fort Wayne area. Among the earliest Red Cross volunteers were two Summit City physicians, Dr. W. W. Barnett and Dr. Charles Barnett. Fifteen other Fort Wayne citizens soon joined this group, and in late 1916, the Fort Wayne Chapter was organized.
On January 22, 1917, the national headquarters of the American Red Cross officially authorized the Fort Wayne Chapter; and branches soon sprung up in Arcola, Decatur, Grabill, Hoagland, Huntertown, Kendallville, LaGrange, Leo, Ligonier, Milan Center, Monroeville, and New Haven. When the United States entered World War I, all of the Fort Wayne chapter members were pressed into service either as members of the Armed Forces or as civilian volunteers.
Additionally, the new chapter was stressed by a major influenza epidemic and a tornado. Through it all the Red Cross volunteers continued to provide emergency assistance, taught first aid and home care classes, and helped in hospitals. The Fort Wayne Chapter has continued to survive similar crisis for 85 years...whenever things got tough, the citizens of the Fort Wayne area proved they could take care of their own.
Many things have changed since the Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Red Cross was organized 85 years ago. For one thing, the name was changed when neighboring Wells County asked to become part of the Fort Wayne-Allen County chapter in 1963. In 1995 the Chapter merged with Whitley County and the name was again changed to the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana. A merger also took place in 1997 with the Steuben County Chapter. In 1999, the Noble County and the DeKalb County Chapters also became part of the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana Chapter.
Red Cross volunteers are now providing services and teaching classes in subjects that didn't exist in 1917; cardiopulmonary resuscitation, for instance. The American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana is at the forefront of a joint community effort to offer lifesaving CPR instruction to neighborhood and civic organizations, schools and businesses throughout the area.
Today, the volunteers and staff of the local Chapter are committed to maintaining and expanding the community services which have made this a major Indiana Red Cross Center.
The support the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana has received from the people of this community is unmatched...both in terms of participation and financial support. The chapter is proud to be affiliated with the United Ways of Allen, Wells, Whitley, Noble, DeKalb, and Steuben counties and participate in their annual campaigns.
Growing with the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana since 1951 has been the Indiana-Ohio Blood Region of the American Red Cross. Begun nationally during World War II, the blood program is now the largest program of the Red Cross across the country, as well as in Fort Wayne.
In 1951, the Region collected 19,512 units of lifesaving blood. Since then, that figure has grown to over 103,000 units collected in the fiscal year 2002.
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The aims of this society were to assure the well-being of our nation's citizens engaged in military activities or during emergencies, and to promote the humane treatment of prisoners-of war.
The American Red Cross has grown to become known as the greatest humanitarian organization in the world, recognized for dozens of essential services to the people of this country...and the world.
Red Cross is the world's leading provider of lifesaving blood and blood products...which are freely given by volunteer organizations and Red Cross donors throughout the world. As America's largest volunteer organization, Red Cross is deeply committed to community services and education in such diverse fields as first aid, water safety, health, babysitting and disaster education.
Shortly after the organization's founding in 1881, the American Red Cross began to have an impact on the Fort Wayne area. Among the earliest Red Cross volunteers were two Summit City physicians, Dr. W. W. Barnett and Dr. Charles Barnett. Fifteen other Fort Wayne citizens soon joined this group, and in late 1916, the Fort Wayne Chapter was organized.
On January 22, 1917, the national headquarters of the American Red Cross officially authorized the Fort Wayne Chapter; and branches soon sprung up in Arcola, Decatur, Grabill, Hoagland, Huntertown, Kendallville, LaGrange, Leo, Ligonier, Milan Center, Monroeville, and New Haven. When the United States entered World War I, all of the Fort Wayne chapter members were pressed into service either as members of the Armed Forces or as civilian volunteers.
Additionally, the new chapter was stressed by a major influenza epidemic and a tornado. Through it all the Red Cross volunteers continued to provide emergency assistance, taught first aid and home care classes, and helped in hospitals. The Fort Wayne Chapter has continued to survive similar crisis for 85 years...whenever things got tough, the citizens of the Fort Wayne area proved they could take care of their own.
Many things have changed since the Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Red Cross was organized 85 years ago. For one thing, the name was changed when neighboring Wells County asked to become part of the Fort Wayne-Allen County chapter in 1963. In 1995 the Chapter merged with Whitley County and the name was again changed to the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana. A merger also took place in 1997 with the Steuben County Chapter. In 1999, the Noble County and the DeKalb County Chapters also became part of the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana Chapter.
Red Cross volunteers are now providing services and teaching classes in subjects that didn't exist in 1917; cardiopulmonary resuscitation, for instance. The American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana is at the forefront of a joint community effort to offer lifesaving CPR instruction to neighborhood and civic organizations, schools and businesses throughout the area.
Today, the volunteers and staff of the local Chapter are committed to maintaining and expanding the community services which have made this a major Indiana Red Cross Center.
The support the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana has received from the people of this community is unmatched...both in terms of participation and financial support. The chapter is proud to be affiliated with the United Ways of Allen, Wells, Whitley, Noble, DeKalb, and Steuben counties and participate in their annual campaigns.
Growing with the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana since 1951 has been the Indiana-Ohio Blood Region of the American Red Cross. Begun nationally during World War II, the blood program is now the largest program of the Red Cross across the country, as well as in Fort Wayne.
In 1951, the Region collected 19,512 units of lifesaving blood. Since then, that figure has grown to over 103,000 units collected in the fiscal year 2002.
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