The History of the Los Angeles Chapter

Great institutions, it has been said, are often born in humble circumstances, sometimes in the pain of conflict and adversity. Destiny provided these elements for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Its beginning was a humble one, forged against the backdrop of a world at war. Supporting our nation in World War I was the first of the chapter’s activities. Through the years, the programs and services have increased to meet the emerging needs of a growing and diverse Southern California community. Helping individuals and families to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, the chapter has grown from those first 25 residents to one of the largest in the nation, serving six million people over an area of more than 1,600 square miles.

Among the many services provided by the chapter over the years have been: disaster preparedness and relief ; establishment of blood and tissue collection programs and a marrow donor recruitment program; first aid/CPR and water safety training programs; health services and health education; international tracing; assistance for members of the military and their families; and many more.

Primary among the many services has been the chapter’s response to aid those affected by disasters, large and small. From the largest, the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, to the smallest, residential fires that occur almost daily, the chapter’s disaster workers have always been there to provide emergency assistance.

These disaster workers are special, caring people, and the chapter is proud to dedicate its history to one of them, Paul Gillis, the only American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles disaster worker to lose his life while providing relief for victims of disasters.