The city of West Hollywood is celebrating the American Red Cross in March by honoring the organization and its commitment to providing humanitarian relief around the world.

As part of the city’s recognition of Red Cross Month, West Hollywood City Hall at 8300 Santa Monica Blvd. will be illuminated in red light from March 13-21 to raise awareness and to encourage community members to donate blood, learn lifesaving skills and contribute to the organization.

In 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross was founded by Henry Dunant in Geneva, Switzerland. It called for improved care for wounded soldiers. In 1881, Clara Barton and acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., after learning about the Swiss-inspired global Red Cross network. The American Red Cross continues to thrive and currently attracts millions of volunteers and supporters dedicated to helping people who have been impacted by war, as well as natural and man-made disasters.

Recognizing March as Red Cross Month provides an opportunity for the City to honor and celebrate the employees, volunteers, donors and partners who have committed their lives to making a difference in their neighborhoods, city officials said. The Red Cross provides 40% of the nation’s blood supply and blood components, which it receives from donors. The Red Cross estimates that one in seven patients entering hospitals will need a blood transfusion. To meet the needs of patients, the Red Cross must collect approximately 12,500 blood donations and nearly 3,000 platelet donations daily.

During the past two years, West Hollywood participated in community outreach for the ADVANCE Study (“Assessing Donor Variability And New Concepts in Eligibility”), a pilot study aimed at research and collaboration to make blood donation a more inclusive process while maintaining the safety of the blood supply. Researchers from the participating blood centers – Vitalant, OneBlood and the American Red Cross – continue to share study data with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The city is also honoring the Red Cross for its humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine. For information, visit weho.org/wehoresponds.