On June 18, 2004, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter was appointed Chairman of the American Red Cross by President George W. Bush. McElveen-Hunter is the former U.S. Ambassador to Finland (2001-2003) and the CEO and owner of Pace Communications, Inc., the largest private custom publishing company in the United States. For her exceptional and outstanding services, Bonnie was awarded by the President of Finland one of that country’s highest honors – the Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion. She also received the Dr. Carl Christian Rosenbröijer Award. Previous recipients were former President George H. Bush and Dr. Henry Kissinger.

Bonnie is one of the nation’s most successful entrepreneurs, ranked by Working Woman Magazine as one of the top 175 women-owned businesses in America. Known as a generous philanthropist and extraordinary fundraiser, Bonnie has served as a member of the International Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity, and a board member of Habitat’s First Ladies Build.

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

The American Red Cross, through its network of chapters, service delivery units and national headquarter operations, provides disaster relief services to people affected by disasters 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Through an extensive network of welltrained volunteers and generous donations from people throughout the country, the Red Cross is able to provide the immediate basic needs of disaster victims. Red Cross disaster relief services are free, an outright gift from the American people.

Each year the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters, the majority of which are house or apartment fires. Everyday, American Red Crosschapters work with their community partners to provide practical and helpful awareness and educational information that shows the public how to save lives, reduce injuries and protect their homes. These local chapters respond to disasters within their jurisdiction calling on state and national resources when needed for larger emergencies.

Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people’s immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides safe shelter, food, clothing, health and mental health services to address those immediate needs. Red Cross services also expand to helping emergency workers. In addition to immediate services, Red Cross response also includes needed referrals, materials and financial assistance. This aid is given to individuals and families to enable them to resume their normal daily activities as quickly as possible to get them back to normalcy or until further long-term assistance becomes available. The Red Cross can provide needed items such as groceries, new clothing, essential household items, medicines and so much more. All assistance is based on verified disastercaused needs.

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter

The American Red Cross provides disaster relief throughout the United States. As a member of the International Red Cross Movement, the American Red Cross monitors and often provides international disaster relief assistance through its sister National Societies in nations throughout the world.

American Red Cross chapters continually work to be prepared to respond when a disaster threatens or strikes. When a disaster is so large that it exceeds the affected chapter’s capacity to respond, all of the resources of the organization - including those of the affected and supporting units within the affected state(s) and of national headquarters - combine to ensure that needed disaster services are provided to meet the needs of those affected. The Red Cross relies on the American public to help provide funds to continue these activities. We also rely on the skill of Red Cross volunteers who generously contribute their time to train and respond to those in need.