In 1859, Henry Dunant saw the ravages of the war while traveling to northern Italy to meet with the Emperor Napoleon III. Deeply affected by the wounded men he saw, he immediately organized a voluntary aid service that would come to be known as the International Red Cross. At the same time, America's Civil War brought a former school teacher and government worker Clarissa Harlowe Barton to the front to care for the wounded. Her dedication and determination quickly earned Clara Barton the appellation “Angel of the Battlefield.” After the war, Barton learned of the Red Cross movement established in 1863 by Dunant and founded the American Association of the Red Cross in 1881.The American Red Cross then received a Congressional charter in 1905.
In 1917, 36 years after the American Red Cross founding, groups of local citizens successfully petitioned to establish chapters in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and in PascoCounty.
Timeline of Florida’s West Coast Region of the American Red Cross
1917: During WWI the Women’s Club makes bandages and pillows for the Red Cross, providing the impetus for forming a branch of the American Red Cross in ManateeCounty. ManateeRiver American Red Cross was chartered Nov 3, 1917 and consisted of 7 branches throughout the county (due to scattered population and transportation limitations). Chapters established in Tampa, St.Petersburg, Clearwater and in PascoCounty (headquartered in DadeCity)
1918:ManateeRiver Chapter led the nation in percentage increase of membership, from 826 to 2622 members. Dr. J. O. Brown begins teaching American Red Cross First Aid classes. Influenza Epidemic kills 20 million worldwide, over 548,000 in U.S. A hurricane causes major damage locally.
1921: Major hurricane strikes Cortez on October 25, 1921
1928: Hurricane relief fund collections begin due to a devastating hurricane that causes Lake Okeechobee to overflow, killing 2,000. At the local Annual Meeting in Manatee, Mrs. Pardon Houston reports that 600 volunteers assisted in the relief efforts.
1930: The Gulf Beach Lion's Club sponsors a Lifesaving Corps to patrol the Gulf beaches between Pass-A-Grille and the Indian Rocks beaches
1934: Manatee Red Cross Lifesaving Corps saves 41 lives at the beach.
1936: National Red Cross responds to the alarming number of highway fatalities and injuries by beginning Highway Emergency First Aid Stations. The Manatee Chapter operates two of these stations.
1940:ManateeCounty Chapter collects funds for the Finnish, Belgium and Luxembourg WWII refugees.
1942:The U.S. enter WWII, the Red Cross increases its war relief drives, clothing projects, bandage packing, and service to military families.
1943: During World War II, the Tampa Bay Chapter boasts the largest Canteen Corps in the state (650 members) and receives the donation of its first mobile canteen truck
1944: During an October hurricane, Manatee Red Cross shelters 850 people.
1947: A major hurricane in September requires the opening of 15 shelters to accommodate 2,000 people in ManateeCounty.
1950: MacDill AFB donates $30,000 worth of radio equipment, thus placing the Tampa Bay Chapter in the "key station" category for times of national emergency
1953: The Manatee County Chapter’s Grey Ladies give 1,778 hours of service at Bay Pines Veterans hospital.
1956: The Grey Ladies launch a new Service Program for Schools that is then nationally adopted.
1962: Floods cause over 14” of rain and millions of dollars of damage in ManateeCounty. National Red Cross opens a service center in chapter headquarters. Hurricane Donna strikes.
1966: The Manatee County Chapter responds to Hurricane Alma
1968: The Manatee County Chapter responds to Hurricane Gladys in October and assists victims of a tornado in November
1985: During Hurricane Elena the Manatee County Chapter shelters over 10,000 people.
1988: Launch of an HIV/AIDS prevention education program.
1989:Tampa and St. Petersburg Chapters merge forming the Sun Coast Chapter
1993: Manatee chapter receives a new emergency response vehicle.
1994:Clearwater Chapter merges with Tampa/St. Petersburg to form the Tampa Bay Chapter
1999:West Pasco Chapter is merged with the Tampa Bay Chapter
2001: MacDill Air Force Base Red Cross office merged with Tampa Bay Chapter
2004: Chapters respond to back-to-back hurricanes: Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jean.
2009: The Charlotte County Chapter, Manatee County Chapter, Tampa Bay Chapter and Southwest Florida Chapters form Florida’s West Coast Region of the American Red Cross.
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