March 26 marks Red Cross Giving Day to rally 30,000 people to help families affected by disasters

The Red Cross's March 2025 Giving Day appeal, worth studying for how it stacks a specific donor goal with exact dollar-to-impact figures instead of a vague ask to help.

Issued by
American Red Cross
Date
Mar 25, 2025
Industry
Nonprofit
Read it at redcross.org

Checked against the source on Sep 23, 2026.

The release, as issued

548 words, copied from redcross.org on Sep 23, 2026. The text belongs to American Red Cross.Found by searching site:redcross.org for 2025 disaster relief press releases and opening the March Giving Day appeal from the newsroom listing

March 26 marks Red Cross Giving Day to rally 30,000 people to help families affected by disasters

Visit redcross.org to make a financial or blood donation

WASHINGTON, MARCH 25, 2025 — The American Red Cross is issuing a national call to help ensure no one faces a disaster alone by donating on Red Cross Giving Day, March 26.

This year’s disasters have been relentless: During the first 50 days of 2025, Red Cross volunteers responded to more big disasters in the U.S. than days. Now, they’re on the ground helping after this month’s massive cross-country storm outbreak. And that’s on top of everyday crises like home fires — which are so prevalent that, in a typical week, the Red Cross distributes a total of $1 million in emergency financial assistance for affected families. To add to these needs, more Red Cross blood donations have gone uncollected so far this year due to weather than throughout all of 2024.

“In the face of crisis, we see humanity at its finest when people rally together to provide care and hope. Whether or not an emergency makes headlines, these supporters are community heroes to the families who rely on their generosity when help can’t wait,” said Anne McKeough, chief development officer of the Red Cross. “On March 26, join us during Red Cross Giving Day to reignite this compassionate spirit for those confronting crises large and small, seen and unseen.”

Visit redcross.org today to make a financial donation on Red Cross Giving Day, March 26, which aims to rally 30,000 individuals to help people affected by future disasters big and small. You can also schedule an appointment to give blood to help overcome the significant weather impact on blood donations.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING LIGHTS RED TONIGHT To kick off Red Cross Giving Day, the iconic Empire State Building in New York will light up red tonight. This is among other landmarks that have also lit up from coast to coast in March to commemorate the national Red Cross Month celebration, which honors the donors, volunteers and other supporters who have made the nonprofit’s lifesaving mission possible for more than 140 years.

HOW GIVING DAY DONATIONS HELP Financial donations help provide aid such as emergency shelter, food, relief supplies, emotional support and financial assistance. No gift is too small — for example, a donation of $3 can provide a comfort kit with supplies like a toothbrush, comb and shampoo, and a gift of $11 can provide a nutritious meal, snack and drink.

For those who are able, any donor who gives $140 or more in March will receive a choice of a Red Cross monopack or a pair of socks as a thank-you for supporting our mission. Donors can make their gift and claim their thank-you by visiting redcross.org any time during March.

ALL BLOOD TYPES NEEDED The Red Cross also urges the public to give blood by making an appointment today. The Red Cross is expanding its health offerings by performing free A1C testing — commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes — on successful blood, platelet and plasma donations in March. Additionally, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. See RedCrossBlood.org/March for details on both offers.

Headline

March 26 marks Red Cross Giving Day to rally 30,000 people to help families affected by disasters

The headline states the exact date and a concrete goal of 30,000 donors instead of a vague appeal to give.

Lead paragraph

The American Red Cross is issuing a national call to help ensure no one faces a disaster alone by donating on Red Cross Giving Day, March 26.

The lead names the exact mechanism, Giving Day on March 26, in the same sentence as the emotional hook.

Quote

In the face of crisis, we see humanity at its finest when people rally together to provide care and hope. Whether or not an emergency makes headlines, these supporters are community heroes to the families who rely on their generosity when help can't wait. (Anne McKeough, chief development officer of the Red Cross)

The quote frames giving as a response to disasters that never make the news, not just the ones in headlines.

Details

No gift is too small — for example, a donation of $3 can provide a comfort kit with supplies like a toothbrush, comb and shampoo, and a gift of $11 can provide a nutritious meal, snack and drink.

Specific dollar figures are tied to specific items, turning an abstract donation into a concrete purchase a reader can picture.

Each passage above is quoted from the release; the note under it is this site's reading.

Why it works

  1. The headline states the exact date, the name of the giving day and a concrete goal of 30,000 donors, giving readers a specific target instead of a vague appeal to give.
  2. The lead names the mechanism, Red Cross Giving Day on March 26, in the same sentence as the emotional hook, so a reader knows exactly what to do next.
  3. The release breaks the ask into specific dollar amounts and what each buys, such as $3 for a comfort kit, turning an abstract donation into a concrete purchase.
  4. The quote from the chief development officer avoids thanking donors in advance and instead frames giving as a response to crises that do not always make headlines.
  5. A second incentive, the $140 thank-you gift and the blood donation angle, is layered onto the financial ask, giving the release two distinct ways for a reader to act.

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