Program Spotlight: American Red Cross
As committed partners for more than three decades, Visa and Visa Foundation share the Red Cross’ mission to provide people impacted by disasters with the care, comfort and resources they need and deserve. For several years, Visa Foundation has been a proud supporter of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). Together, Visa Foundation and Visa and its employees have donated more than $26 million to support the Red Cross’ responses to disasters and crises globally. In addition, Visa employees regularly volunteer their time and energy, providing hands-on assistance with programs such as the “Sound the Alarm” smoke alarm installation and home fire safety events, assembling personal hygiene kits and hosting blood drives.
Charisse Sakamoto, a member of Visa’s Enterprise Transformation and People Solutions team, began supporting the American Red Cross in 2012. Her father had recently undergone a transplant surgery and needed a blood transfusion, which was provided by blood donated through the American Red Cross. With gratitude for the lifesaving impact the American Red Cross had made on her family and others around the world, Charisse began coordinating on-site blood drives in Visa’s Foster City, California office twice a year. To date, she has organized three blood drives with generous participation from more than 119 of her Visa colleagues. Together, they’ve donated roughly 100 pints of blood that will be used to save lives. For her, volunteering with the Red Cross is about more than just donating blood. These drives create opportunities to inspire and educate others—especially her Visa colleagues—about the importance of giving what you can to support organizations that are doing good in the world.
Visa and Visa Foundation make it so easy for employees to volunteer. There’s so much satisfaction seeing my peers and colleagues around Visa stepping up to make a difference.
– Charisse Sakamoto, Visa employee