National American Red Cross Founder’s Day
National American Red Cross Founder’s Day:
National American Red Cross Founder’s Day is observed on every May 21st that marks the anniversary of the Foundation of American Red Cross by Clarissa Harlowe Barton.
| Year | Date | Day | Where |
| 2023 | 21st May | Sunday | United States |
| 2023 | 21st May | Tuesday | United States |
| 2025 | 21st May | Wednesday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
#NationalAmericanRedCrossFounder’sDay
#AmericanRedCrossFounder’sDay
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on May 21st:
National Strawberries and Cream Day
Why National American Red Cross Founder’s Day?
The Day is celebrated to honor Clara Barton, a social reformer, a Nurse, an Orator and the Founder of American Red Cross, a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides disaster relief and emergency preparedness assistance throughout the United States.
To tribute her generous and benevolent services to our country, this day is being celebrated.
How can we observe National American Red Cross Founder’s Day?
Notable Works of Red Cross: List out the notable achievements of Red cross in the United States.
For Example:
Thumb Fire
Johnstown Flood
RMS Titanic Sink…
Let’s honor the work so that it would become a moral boost to the volunteers who strives hard to help us in tough situations.
Use these hashtags #NationalAmericanRedCrossFounder’sDay and #AmericanRedCrossFounder’sDay to support and congratulate their selfless works.
Read About Clara Barton: The main reason for this day is to know about Clara Barton.
Not All might know about her and typically all prominent figures are equally controversial. Barton is of no exception.
Check out some interesting facts about Barton and share it using the hashtag #AmericanRedCrossFounder.
History about Clara:
There would not a be a better way to celebrate this day without knowing about the history of Clara Barton.
Containing her achievement in a piece of article is not possible, However, lets see some facts about her achievement and what emphasized her to implement Red Cross in America,
She was a hospital nurse in the American Civil War.
she did not attend nursing school. She is self-taught. As Nursing profession is not formalized then, she was able to become a nurse.
Her first job was a teacher. She then opened a free school, first ever free school in New Jersey. She hired an assistant to teach for around 600 people. They both made $250 each per year.
This mighty accomplishment made her to fundraise $4000 for building construction and a man was elected as principal where she was demoted to a female assistant as women were considered not competent to administer a larger institution.
Leaving her teaching profession and becoming a nurse at the time of American Civil War and the REST IS HISTORY!
Interesting facts about National American Red Cross Founder’s Day:
Let’s see some of the interesting facts about American Red Cross,
Clara Barton is the first president and Founder of American Red Cross.
The Initial Donations were offered by John D. Rockefeller who played a vital role in creating a National Headquarters near the White house.
Frederick Douglass, A social reformer provided moral support to establish it.
The Foundation first relief was for people affected by Thumb Fire, a massive fire that burned millions of acres leaving around 5000 people homeless.
Following the Thumb Fire, the organization helped people suffered from Johnstown Flood ,one of the worst disasters in History. The South Fork Dam located near Johnstown; Pennsylvania is ruptured suddenly that had led to around 2000 casualties.
Though the American Red Cross Foundation engaged in several social reform activities for around 20 years, the lack of fundraising forced her to resign by the year 1904 when she was 84 years old. She was also severely criticized for being an egoist personality that unfits to a non-profit social reform and charity Organization.
The authority was taken over by social work experts that paved the way for “Progressive era”, where the social activities and humanitarian works were flourished in the United States.
History of National American Red Cross Founder’s Day:
Though not officially recognized by the Government, the day is celebrated on annual basis to mark the anniversary of American Red Cross.
On May 21st 1881, Clara Barton became the President of the American branch of the society and the first official meeting of Red Cross Foundation was held on this day to mark its establishment.
She founded this non-profit organization in U.S after learning about similar foundations for serving people in Geneva, Switzerland. She travelled across Europe and contributed a lot during Franco-Prussian War at the International Red Cross. By all means, she aimed to establish a red cross Foundation in America which was implemented in May 21,1881.
From there onwards, to recognize the works of Barton, this day is been celebrated.
Even before women had the right to vote, she was a notable civil rights advocate and her notable achievements inducted her into National Women’s Hall of Fame posthumously.
