The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Civil War nurse Clara Barton. It was the first U.S. relief organization and established its effectiveness with responses to the Great Thumb Fire of 1881 and the Johnstown Flood in 1889. In the 20th century, the Red Cross became a byword for humanitarianism and good works. In the 21st, the organization can seemingly do nothing right.
The troubles began 16 years ago, in the aftermath of 9/11. The Red Cross came under fire for mishandling blood and money donated to the victims and their families. After Ground Zero was declared a crime scene, the Red Cross found itself on the sidelines with little responsibility and too much money. When it came to light that the Red Cross had repurposed $200 million from its so-called 9/11 Liberty Fund, the public was outraged. Since then, hurricanes Katrina (2005), Isaac (2012), and Sandy (2012) have each brought new scandal for the charity. Emergency vehicles diverted for PR stunts, rumors of sex offenders mistakenly allowed to mingle with children, and ill-equipped emergency shelters have all been the source of bad press. When a 2015 ProPublica investigation revealed that the Red Cross had raised half a billion dollars to aid Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake but built only six permanent houses in the country, it was the last straw for many critics.
