I got an email from the Red Cross today-
"Thank you very much for your support of the American Red Cross and those we serve.
As you may be aware, the Red Cross has been criticized for one of the water safety posters we produced. If you have seen the poster in question, then you know it is clearly unacceptable, and I sincerely apologize for its production and distribution.
I want you to know the Red Cross is doing everything in our power to fix the situation. We removed access to the poster from our website and the Swim App as of June 21. We have also reached out to each of the aquatics facilities across the country that received the poster and told them to remove it. Please know that we are looking closely at what steps were involved in the design and production of this poster, and how we can make sure something like this never happens again.
While I’m deeply concerned by this incident, I’m also very proud of our Learn to Swim program and the Centennial Campaign currently underway – which celebrates 100 years of the Red Cross teaching kids and adults to swim. We are working to reduce the drowning rate in 50 high-risk communities over a 5-year period by helping to teach at least 50,000 more people to swim. Anything that diverts us from our efforts to reduce the number of drownings is truly unfortunate.
While we have taken immediate action to address this situation, rest assured the Red Cross will learn from this incident as we move forward in our efforts to ensure we are a welcoming and safe place for everyone.
Thank you once again for your meaningful support of the Red Cross and our lifesaving mission. We are committed to fixing this situation and to being an organization that our wonderful donors, volunteers, employees and community partners can always be proud of."
Sincerely,
Gail McGovern
President and CEO
American Red Cross
