Mission:
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Purpose of Site:
To provide information about the organization's mission and services, offer educational resources to help people prepare for emergencies, and link users to local Red Cross chapters. It also includes news about the organization and national disasters, historical information, and instructions on how to give and volunteer.

Background:
The first enduring chapter of the Red Cross in America, which was modeled after the International Red Cross, was established by Clara Barton in Washington, D.C., in 1881. The organization was created to serve America in peace and in war and during times of disaster and national calamity. Throughout its history, the American Red Cross has been dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering, and restoring hope at home and around the world, and it has also been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than fifty years.

In 2001, the American Red Cross mobilized relief to the victims of nearly 73,000 disasters nationwide and trained almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills. The organization also assisted international disaster and conflict victims in close to forty locations around the globe, and its emergency communication centers processed 1.2 million calls in support of U.S. military families.

Home Page:
The American Red Cross home page is stocked with information and news about the organization's efforts around the world. In addition to the featured information, toolbars on the home page help direct users to other parts of the site. Across the top of the page are links to the News, Services, Press Room, FAQs, Jobs, Publications, and Museum sections of the site.

Outstanding Feature:
Also on the home page, the toolbar along the left side of the page offers links to the organization's various divisions — Disaster Services, Biomedical Services, Armed Forces Emergency Services, Health and Safety Services, International Services, Community Services, Volunteer Services, Youth Services, and Nursing. Each division has its own dedicated site replete with news and profiles, FAQs, partners, and resources. The toolbar on each site is also unique. For example, the Youth Services site provides links to pages for Kids, Teens, Young Adults & College, Educators, and the National Youth Council.

Honorable Mention:
The Red Cross site makes it easy to donate or volunteer with the organization. On the national level, the site provides instructions on how to give online, by phone, and by mail, as well as how to make donations of stock, in-kind products, and even loose change at Coinstar machines in grocery stores. The Give Blood section offers links to information on giving blood, contact phone numbers, and what to expect when giving blood. Finally, users who wish to donate or volunteer at their local Red Cross chapter can simply enter a zip code in a box on the home page and click to access the appropriate contact information.