Celebrating Red Cross Month: How We’re Helping Turn Compassion into Action
“You must never think of anything except the need and how you meet it.”
This quote came from Clara Barton, the exceptional woman who founded the American Red Cross in 1881. This year marks the Red Cross’ 140th anniversary. The month of March is also Red Cross Month – designated as such by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943.
At Zebra, we’re always thinking about “the need.” Lately, we’ve been thinking about what everyone involved in the manufacturing, distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines needs to be confident that the cold chain was preserved – and proper vial temperatures maintained from the time they leave the production facility to the time they reach their recipients. We’ve also been thinking about what it is going to take to create a globally-trusted vaccine verification system so that we can all feel comfortable resuming certain activities.
At the same time, we know that things won’t ever be exactly the same as they were before, and that’s okay. In order to map a path forward, we must first understand how individuals, organizations and communities will need to be supported. Supply chains will need to be restructured and scaled. Businesses will need to be able to accommodate customers both virtually and in person. And everything from facilities and infrastructure to services and processes will need to be aggressively modernized. Our solutions are designed to meet these needs. Our people are passionate about meeting these needs.
So much so that over the course of January, Zebra employees and partners donated nearly $20,000 USD to Red Cross societies in the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore during our regional, virtual Sales Kick Off meetings. This year’s event theme was “Rise,” centered on how we can rise up and achieve great results in 2021 for both our business and those we serve. This includes our local communities.
Turning Compassion into Action
During the events, we offered attendees an opportunity to learn how to volunteer from home.
Each year, disasters around the world devastate millions of people. But many communities are missing from the maps that responders use to deliver lifesaving aid. Thanks to the Red Cross and partner organizations who launched the Missing Maps project in 2014, people can now help map these communities using OpenStreetMap on their own computers from the comfort and safety of their homes.
Keeping the Pedal to the Metal
For an organization like the Red Cross with a mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering, the work is never done. Take last month, for example, when a major winter and ice storm slammed the United States for nearly a week and had widespread impact that will last decades. Pipes burst and flooded homes, millions lost power and water, and at least 70 people lost their lives. Several families also lost their homes to fires that couldn’t be contained due to frozen fire hydrants.
The Red Cross and its trained volunteers have been busy distributing emergency supplies and comfort kits and ensuring families have safe shelter and food to eat. Due to COVID-19 protocols, materials like cots and blankets are not expected to be returned to the Red Cross, leading to additional material gaps to be filled before the Spring storm season begins in less than a month.
To help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises across the country, Zebra and our employees donated more than $15,000 to Red Cross Disaster Relief in February.
Did You Know That March is Red Cross Month? Join Us in Supporting Its Mission
You can learn more about Zebra’s financial gift to the Red Cross and how you can help people affected by disasters big and small here.
We also encourage you to contact your local Red Cross to learn more about current volunteer opportunities.
Therese Van Ryne
Therese Van Ryne is Senior Director of External Communications for Zebra Technologies. She joined Zebra as part of the acquisition of Motorola Solutions Enterprise business in October 2014. She and her team are laser focused on growing the company’s brand awareness globally aligned with business objectives. Her accomplishments include leading Zebra events with Harvard University and TED as well as the creation of the annual Intelligent Enterprise Index, resulting in positive media coverage, customer engagement and revenue growth.
Prior to Motorola Solutions, Van Ryne worked at SC Johnson where she led corporate communication strategies and drove PR and branding efforts for leading consumer products. One of her top achievements was leading the Windex® placement in the film, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” resulting in a 25% sales increase for the brand.
One of PR News’ 2019 Top Women in PR and Crain's Chicago's 2021 Most Notable Executives in Marketing, Therese also has experience as a journalist, editor and producer, reporting nightly from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Van Ryne holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Journalism from Marquette University and an Executive Leadership Master’s Certificate from Cornell University.
