While stationed in Australia during WWII, Robert Carp was taken ill with severe allergies and asthma due to the indigenous plants. His illness landed him in the hospital more times than the United States Army would have liked. During his frequent visits to the hospital, Robert was so, "taken aback by the good work of the American Red Cross," that he decided he would volunteer his time to the organization that made such an impact on the lives of the service men and women of WWII. Most Americans view the Red Cross as a worthy charity; here is the story of a man who has a real soft spot in his heart for the Red Cross.

The American Red Cross helps thousands of people every day. As the organization is not government-funded, it relies on the generous donations of the American people. Donations of both liberal and modest proportions allow the organization to do the good work it has been recognized for since the 19th century.

After a year of being in and out of the hospital, the Army sent him home. Robert went straight to the American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) headquarters in Manhattan wanting to volunteer his services. "It took a great deal of persistence," Robert says of his attempts to volunteer because at 26, he was too young (the age requirement at the time was 30 for military service). Finally, he was able to get in with the Navy Construction Battalion (CB's) in Rhode Island at Camp Endicott as a Red Cross Field Director. They lived a military life on the base, subject to all military regulations - they even wore a Navy uniform. "We worked hard but it was so inspiring; I just loved every minute of it," said Carp of his first Red Cross assignment in which he assisted Navy service men and women with their home and family-related troubles.

When a wire arrived requesting Carp to report to a maximum-security Navy prison in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he was put to work helping the prisoners with their social problems. "Our job was to listen to their home and family-related problems and contact their local Red Cross chapter back home for help." These issues ranged from sick or dying relatives to the birth of a child. He volunteered for the Red Cross full-time until the war ended.

After Robert Carp completed his Red Cross volunteer service and returned from New Hampshire, he went to work in the business world where he worked day and night. He was able to achieve the American dream by becoming successful in the jewelry industry. All this time Robert never forgot the Red Cross and how much volunteering enriched his life. His work was his life. He had no time for a wife and family let alone the time to volunteer for the Red Cross. However, he decided to help in a different way; later in life, he was in a position to help with generous financial contributions.

He began by creating a foundation in the name of his parents, The Lewis and Florence Carp Memorial Foundation from which he makes generous, yearly contributions to several charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross.

Now that Mr. Carp has retired, he has more time to give the Red Cross as well. Since its inception, he has been a member of the Red Cross' Greater New Yorkers Circle (a dedicated and loyal group of benefactors whose mission is to help the ARC/GNY deliver services of the highest quality to New Yorkers), and a charter member of the Clara Barton Society, which recognizes supporters who make planned gifts (gifts through their estate plans). He is also a member of the Red Cross' planned giving committee. In 2000, he was awarded the American Red Cross Philos Award in recognition of his support through contributions of time and by strengthening the organization's financial position.

It is people like Robert Carp who make it possible for the Red Cross to provide vital services to the community. Without the support of its generous donors, Red Cross would not be able to help the hundreds of families who were burned out of their homes this past year or shelter and nurture the homeless women and children in the two Red Cross homeless facilities in New York City. These are but a few of the supportive services the Red Cross provides to the Greater New York community every day of the year. Robert Carp understands that a strong Red Cross presence in the community is an essential component of a safe and healthy community.