Every day women are demonstrating greater leadership across the not-for-profit sector as decision makers on boards, active participants in nonprofit missions, and donors of millions of dollars to support causes that help improve and save lives. Women are active change agents in their communities and expect to see the impact of their dollars where they live. A growing number of women are focusing their giving on their local chapters of the American Red Cross.
The American Red Cross Tiffany Circle of Women Leaders is a powerful example of this focus at both a local and national level. Through their annual contributions of $10,000 and above, this group of dedicated women leaders has raised nearly $100 million dollars for the Red Cross since the circle’s founding in 2006. Today, their contribution represents 22 percent of the organization’s major gifts. Most important to these women is the impact of their dollars in their communities.
“The American Red Cross touches so many people in our communities,” says Susan Noyes, Tiffany Circle member and founder of Make It Better Media Group. “Our children learn important life-saving skills, our families donate blood, and we respond to the call for fundraising after disasters like the unprecedented recent hurricanes. Women participate in the Red Cross mission at an extraordinarily involved level.”
Tiffany Circle members recently convened in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of this special donor group. The words of American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, “Be generous and noble,” underscored the theme of this three-day event sponsored by Northern Trust and Wells Fargo. Attendees honed their strategic mission with powerful ideas, ignited the energy of members, and deepened their commitment to the mission of the Red Cross.
Sessions served both an educational and social purpose. For example, the Summit featured an emergency preparedness presentation that demonstrated plans to survive dire situations including an active shooter scenario. Attendees learned how various international Red Crescent National Societies are working on the refugee crisis. And, the United States Institute of Peace offered a gorgeous space for a dinner featuring a Tiffany Circle member as keynote speaker — famous singer songwriter Amy Grant.
Grant shared her inspiration for the Red Cross mission and joy women feel in giving:
“Gifts [are] given to you by the one who made you; who knows you better than anyone else knows you. And they are not gifts just to be given to other people, they were not just gifts you were to channel to the world. They are actually a part of the toolkit that makes life livable and enjoyable and beautiful … just for you.”
Exactly how women are changing the face of philanthropy was discussed among a panel of business leaders including:
- Andrea Davis, Director of Global Crisis Management and Business Continuity, The Walt Disney Company
- Amy Edge, CEO, Leading Edge Institute
- Susan Noyes, Founder, Make It Better Media
- Jana Schreuder, Chief Operating Officer, Northern Trust
Speaking to impact of the donor dollar when giving to Red Cross, Davis mentioned:
“Every single woman in this room has a story to tell and they have made an impact in their community. It’s sharing that and sharing the credible data. To me, that is what makes the Tiffany Circle and the American Red Cross so amazing.”
Edge shared her Red Cross story after being in a car accident and nearly losing her life:
“My last conscious thought was, ‘The Red Cross is on the scene and it’s going to be OK’ … and it was.”
What common thread do all Tiffany Circle women share? The answer is easy: a deep commitment to the Red Cross mission, whether it is in their hometown, a neighboring community, or across the globe. These women are “hearts in” and “hands on.” Their passion is demonstrated not only by their generous financial contributions but also in their tireless efforts as volunteers.
Nurse Jane Nesbitt was deployed to Houston, Texas, as a disaster health service supervisor after Hurricane Harvey hit. Nesbitt volunteered to address the unmet disaster-related health needs of individuals, families, and communities within the Houston area.
Nesbitt reflected on the meaning of her experience. “As a retired ER nurse, I thought I had seen it all. My deployment to Texas was the most challenging, intense, and rewarding experience a person could have volunteering. This is one of the most important things I’ve done since graduating from nursing school.”
Nesbitt is a Red Cross donor and Tiffany Circle member from Wisconsin — some may call her a modern-day Clara Barton.
Karen Teller, chair of the Tiffany Circle National Council, represents the modern-day donor leader. In addition to her leadership role in Tiffany, Teller contributes and volunteers at the Boston Chapter. Teller shared her excitement over the success of the Summit. “So many attendees came forward with ideas about how Tiffany Circle can better educate, build awareness and be engaged in the mission. These ideas will be implemented on a local level, so the call to action is even greater now than before to make sure women have more opportunities to be involved.”
And Victoria Raymont, new member of the Chicago and Northern Illinois region Tiffany Circle, shared her perspective. “I imagine most people don’t realize where and how the Red Cross intersects with their lives, directly or indirectly. I left the Summit thinking that the Red Cross is everywhere.”
Although she is relatively new to Tiffany, Raymont has already volunteered in her community to install free smoke alarms provided by the Red Cross. She admits it left quite an impression on her understanding of the risk of home fires and how we can help protect people.
“Every day across the nation seven people die while 36 others are injured as a result of a home fire,” Raymont says. “Sadly, most of these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The Red Cross, along with our community and corporate partners, is aiming to diminish that number and provide life-saving fire safety education to people in our communities.”
How can you get involved? An annual gift of $10,000 or more will help empower families affected by disaster to take control of their lives once again and give them hope for the future. Your gift also ensures that the Red Cross is able to train volunteers to respond to the next disaster, that military families are able to reach their loved ones in an emergency, and that individuals and families will be trained to save a life during a medical emergency. The Tiffany Circle is a perfect way to pay tribute to a special woman in your life. Honor her with a gift that saves lives and gives hope — each and every day.
Women of the Tiffany Circle say it best in their own words — let us introduce you to some of our leaders in philanthropy.
For further information, visit Redcross.org and TiffanyCircle.org.
