By Stephanie Dunn Ashley
March offers us a welcome tradition as spring flowers start to emerge from the cold earth — a chance to pause and recognize the people who show up when help can’t wait. Red Cross Month, first established during World War II and continuing each year in March, has become an enduring reminder of what’s possible when ordinary people choose to care for one another.
We kicked off this wonderful celebration of compassion in action on March 2, as board members, volunteers and local leaders gathered together at Greenwich Town Hall to raise the Red Cross flag. Standing together on that chilly morning, you could feel the pride of a community that doesn’t hesitate when someone needs a hand.
That pride is backed by real impact. More than 130 Greenwich residents volunteer with the American Red Cross, serving in roles that support families both right here at home and across the country. And in just the past six months, our community has donated more than 3,000 units of blood — helping provide lifesaving care for patients throughout our region.
These are extraordinary acts. Not because they’re heroic, but because they come from everyday people deciding to make someone else’s day, or even someone else’s life, a little better.
Nationally, the Red Cross remains one of the country’s largest volunteer‑powered organizations. Ninety percent of our workforce is made up of volunteers, and we have grown nearly 25 percent over the past three years — now totaling more than 325,000 people nationwide. It’s a powerful sign that across the country, people are choosing community, connection and service.
What is especially inspiring is how every generation is represented in this wave of volunteerism. Gen Z brings fresh energy through a surge in student‑led Red Cross Clubs. Millennials, Baby Boomers and Gen X anchor mission‑critical work, from disaster response to supporting military families to ensuring blood is available when hospitals need it. And the Silent Generation, though smaller in number, continues offering decades of wisdom and steadiness that strengthen our mission.
Taken together, these volunteers prove something simple but profound: service has no age limit.
Red Cross Month is our opportunity to honor these everyday humanitarians — the ones consoling families after home fires, staffing shelters during disasters, encouraging people to donate lifesaving blood, and supporting our military communities. Their efforts may unfold quietly, but their impact is felt loudly.
It’s also a moment to ask ourselves how we can be part of that impact. Greenwich always rises to the occasion, and there are many ways to get involved:
• Visit www.redcross.org/volunteer to look for a role that fits your interests and schedule.
• Give blood, which you can do six days a week at the Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center on Indian Field Road, knowing one donation can help save more than one life.
• Celebrate Red Cross Giving Day on March 25, as a gift of any size helps fuel the work of volunteers to provide immediate relief and hope.
• Learn CPR, a skill that can triple someone’s chances of surviving cardiac arrest.
And our celebration doesn’t end after March. We hope you’ll join us for a special evening at the Riverside Yacht Club for our Ruby Red & White Ball on Saturday, April 25 — a night dedicated to honoring our volunteers, supporting our mission and celebrating the generous spirit that defines Greenwich. This year, as we celebrate our 40th Ball, we will also recognize several Greenwich residents who have generously shared their time and talents with so many organizations. Giovanna Miller, our Humanitarian Honoree, and Carolyn and Bobby Crabtree, our Corporate Leadership Honorees, truly exemplify the spirit of volunteerism.
Here in Greenwich, we’ve always taken care of one another during storms, emergencies, and other moments that test us. Red Cross Month is another chance to strengthen these bonds of community and neighborly support.
So, this March, let’s celebrate readiness, generosity, and community connection. Let’s honor those who serve — and let’s join them. Together, we can keep compassion moving forward, one act at a time.
Stephanie has worked and volunteered in the nonprofit sector in Greenwich for over twenty years. Her current role as CEO of the Metro NY North chapter of the American Red Cross began in March 2020. Stephanie oversees Westchester and Rockland counties in New York, the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, and Greenwich, Connecticut for all lines of service of the Red Cross.
