The American Red CrossThe American Red Cross is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people around the world and contributing to make our world a better place. The American Red Cross has been supporting America's military families, providing disaster relief, health and safety training and services, blood drives and other endless services since 1881. Clara Barton and a few close associates founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. Clara Barton heard about the worldwide Red Cross organization while staying in Europe after the Civil War. (History.com, “Clara Barton”) After returning from Europe, Barton began campaigning for an American Red Cross organization. Twenty-three years later, Clara Barton continued to lead the American Red Cross in providing domestic and foreign disaster relief and assisted the U.S. Army in the Spanish-American War. She also successfully campaigned for the formation of peacetime relief organizations as a partner in the global Red Cross network. In 1904, Clara Barton resigned from the American Red Cross. In 1900, the American Section of the Red Cross received its first Charter from Congress and a second Charter in 1905. Another version of the Charter was adopted in May 2007, this Charter reaffirmed the original purpose of the organization. “Prior to World War I, the American Red Cross added first aid, water safety, and nursing programs for the public.” (Bertol, 59) When war broke out, the American chapter of the Red Cross experienced extraordinary growth. When the war ended, the American Red Cross focused its services on veterans and increased its training in safety, accident prevention, home care for the sick, and nutrition education. .. middle of article...... National Library of Medicine, May 18, 2000. The web. May 15, 2014. “Disaster: How the Red Cross and Red Crescent Reduces Risk.” Home. Np, and Web. May 15, 2014. Harness, Jill. “The History and Impact of the Red Cross.” Mental thread. Np, October 29, 2012. Web. April 30, 2014 Marko, Eve. Clara Barton and the American Red Cross. New York: Baronet, 1996. Print. “Our story”. American Red Cross. The American Red Cross. 2014. Internet. April 30, 2014.Pictet, Jean. “The fundamental principles of the Red Cross: commentary”. The fundamental principles of the Red Cross: commentary. Np, and Web. May 15, 2014. Riley, W. “56 Facts About Blood and Blood Donation.” Pacific Blood Centers. Np 2007. Web. May 15, 2014. “The Seven Fundamentals.” – IFRC. Np, and Web. May 15, 2014. “Who needs a blood transfusion? » –NHLBI, NIH. Np, and Web. May 15 2014.