Regional Red Cross chapters merge
In an effort to make more efficient use of donated dollars and better serve local residents, several area American Red Cross chapters will consolidate as part of two separate mergers.
These mergers, along with several other internal structural changes within the Southwestern Pennsylvania Region, come as part of a national American Red Cross reorganization designed to reduce overhead costs and streamline operations while increasing programming and disaster response capacity through the sharing of resources between chapters.
The reorganization will not interrupt or reduce the level of services provided by the Red Cross.
Rather, through the sharing of resources throughout all 13 counties in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Region, the organization will increase its local disaster response capabilities. Additionally, by reducing overhead costs, consolidating back office functions and eliminating duplication of efforts, the Red Cross will be able to direct more funds into its core mission of helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
In addition to the mergers, the Red Cross is taking other key steps to reorganize both locally and across the nation:
The Red Cross has redesigned its Preparedness, Health and Safety programs — including First Aid and CPR classes — in an effort to increase training opportunities in communities throughout the country.
These programs will no longer be managed by Red Cross chapters, but instead they will now be coordinated by the Red Cross as a devoted, nationally-networked operation focused exclusively on increasing the number of people who learn lifesaving skills in all communities.
For more information on the programs and services of the Red Cross, visit swpa.RedCross.org.