American Red Cross Story
Learn how American Red Cross disaster assistance programs help families
On August 14, 1996, my world changed.
That night, we had an exceptional storm. I was talking to my dad in my parent's bedroom when, suddenly, part of the ceiling hit me in the head; a microburst had torn off most of our roof.
My dad yelled for everyone to get into the bathroom. There we were – all six of us –huddled, praying on the bathroom floor. We could hear the roof was still coming in, so, holding hands, we ran out the door and into my dad's truck. We made our way down the flooded dirt roads that trapped most of our neighbors.
The next day, we saw our house destroyed. The bathroom where we huddled together for safety was completely caved in. We were lucky to be alive.
Thankfully, the Red Cross was there, providing hotel vouchers and distributing food.
They stayed for the three weeks our community was without electricity and water.
The Red Cross provided us with basic needs, but also with hope and comfort during the most difficult, overwhelming times in our lives.
That's why I'm proud to work for Nationwide – they reflect the same values of acting with the honesty and integrity and valuing people that I witnessed from my parents, my neighbors and the Red Cross that day so many years ago.
Find more information about the Nationwide and American Red Cross partnership
Nationwide values participation in corporate citizenship programs. The Nationwide Insurance Foundation helped establish the Annual Disaster Giving Program to assist disaster victims. Learn more about the Nationwide and American Red Cross partnership.
