Disasters come suddenly, without ceremony or warning. A house fire in the night. A flood that swallows a town whole. A storm that leaves families sifting through rubble, searching for what remains. In those moments, the American Red Cross is there, stepping forward as the light in a dark hour, bringing blankets, shelter, a warm meal, and the reassurance that help has arrived.
On April 26, 2025, at the Riverside Yacht Club in Riverside, Connecticut, the Metro New York North Chapter of the Red Cross will host the 39th Annual Red & White Ball, its signature fundraising event. This night is about more than elegance and speeches—it is about honoring the quiet heroes among us. The honorees at this year’s Ball have faced hardship and risen above it, offering their courage to those in need. Their stories remind us of an essential truth: the most powerful force in any disaster is not the wind, the water, or the flames, but the human will to help another.
The Red Cross does not operate on sentiment. It operates on action. And last year, its Metro New York North Chapter put that action into motion:
2,214 smoke alarms installed, making 654 homes safer for families who might never have considered fire a real threat—until it was.
87 home f ires and disasters responded to, assisting 348 families who woke one day to find their world turned upside down.
1,093 services delivered to military members, veterans, and their families, because no one who has served should face hardship alone.
8,932 units of lifesaving blood distributed, the quiet miracle that keeps hospitals running and patients breathing.
23,477 people trained in health and safety skills, ensuring that when the unexpected strikes, someone nearby knows what to do.
None of this happens without generosity. The Red Cross also works tirelessly to reunite separated members of families, ensuring that loved ones find each other even in the most chaotic of circumstances. It shelters people—and often their pets—until they no longer need it, offering stability in the midst of uncertainty. The Red & White Ball is an opportunity not only to celebrate the resilience of others but to be part of their recovery. It is a chance to look at disaster—not as something that happens to other people, in other places—but as a test of what we are willing to do for each other.
There are many ways to be part of this work. Attending the Ball, sponsoring a table, or making a direct donation—each act of giving becomes a lifeline. Those interested can visit redwhiteball25.givesmart.com for more information.
We know that the Ball Co-Chairs—Sophie Bosch de Hood, William Hood, and Lauren E. Walsh— along with Stephanie Dunn Ashley, CEO of the Metro New York North Chapter, are incredibly grateful to those who have already answered the call to help. Every dollar given, every hand extended, makes a difference.
Disasters will come, as they always have. But the measure of a community is found in its response. Will we turn away, or will we step forward? The Red Cross chooses the latter, again and again. And for that, it needs all of us.
