On Dec. 8 and 9, American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern made her first visit to Southern California since taking the helm of the Red Cross a year and a half ago.
Meeting with donors, volunteers, employees and other Red Cross supporters, McGovern explained her plans for the Red Cross to weather the current economic storm, grow the organization and keep it relevant.
In 2008, the Red Cross faced an operating deficit of $209 million. In just nine months, McGovern cut this deficit by 75 percent.
With fiscal challenges still looming, McGovern told her L.A. audiences that she will continue to focus on cost savings efforts and fundraising and outlined her six strategic initiatives for the organization.
During her two-day visit, McGovern met with numerous Red Cross support groups and donors, including the Greater Los Angeles Tiffany Circle, a group of women leaders and philanthropists who support the Red Cross by annually donating $10,000. Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet members Jane Seymour and Leeza Gibbons joined local Tiffany members in welcoming McGovern to Southern California.
McGovern also met with international donors at a reception featuring a Red Cross photo exhibit, “The Faces of Recovery,” which features poignant photos of survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami who were assisted through the generosity of Red Cross donors.
On a personal note, McGovern talked about how working at the Red Cross has profoundly changed her life. The former Fidelity Investments division president and Harvard Business School professor is a hands-on CEO who has worked at disaster sites in the United States and abroad.
Paul Schulz, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, said McGovern has done a remarkable job steering the Red Cross into the next decade during her short tenure. “She is informative, approachable and truly committed to the Red Cross mission. The Red Cross is a big ship to turn around, but the future of the American Red Cross is bright as long as we have Gail at the helm,” said Schulz.
