American Red Cross launches its first Giving Day on June 2

The American Red Cross is launching its first Giving Day on June 2. The 24-hour national campaign will support the work the Red Cross does each and every day to help hundreds of thousands of people across the country and around the world. The theme of Giving Day is "All in One Day" because the Red Cross is "All in," every day, helping people to get back on their feet after a disaster or emergency situation.

"Right now the Red Cross is helping hundreds of people in Texas and Oklahoma who have lost everything from severe weather and flooding. But even when there is no disaster in the news, the Red Cross is still working hard – every day – to help people whenever and wherever they need it. The Red Cross wouldn't be there to help without the generous support of the American public," said American Red Cross President and CEO Gail J. McGovern. "We will rally the American public in support of the 134-year-old Red Cross mission to deliver help and hope to people in our communities when they need it most."

6 Ways the Red Cross Helps People Every Day:

• Disasters: Nearly 200 times a day, the Red Cross helps a family affected by a home fire or other disaster.
• Blood: Nearly 5,600 times a day, someone receives a Red Cross blood transfusion.
• Military Families: Every day the Red Cross provides nearly 1,000 services to military members and their families.
• Vaccines: With the help of partners, the Red Cross helps vaccinate 308,000 children a day, globally, against measles or rubella.
• Lifesaving Education: On average, 15,500 people a day learn how to save a life through Red Cross health and safety training and mobile app downloads.
• Floods: Or that on this past Memorial Day, more than 220 people spent their Memorial Day in Red Cross shelters in Texas and Oklahoma.

"Life can change in one day, leaving someone with nothing – without a home, without their belongings, and without hope," added McGovern. "For so many of these people, the American Red Cross is the answer. We need the public's support."