By Clare S. Richie
Continuing the Atlanta Red Cross’ 100-day Centennial Celebration, the Atlanta Red Cross Tiffany Circle will host an event Tuesday, April 22 for staff, board members, friends and community sponsors at The Margaret Mitchell House.
The Tiffany Circle is a society of women leaders and philanthropists from regions across the U.S. who commit at least $10,000 per year in support of the Red Cross mission. Atlanta’s Tiffany Circle, with a growing membership of 47 women, has raised more than three million dollars since 2007 for local Red Cross services, including disaster relief.
The event will showcase the intersection of history, women leaders and philanthropy.
The historic house is a fitting setting, as Atlanta’s beloved author of Gone With the Wind worked tirelessly for the American Red Cross. In fact, Margaret Mitchell worked to outfit a Red Cross hospital ship during World War II.
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, incoming President of Morehouse School of Medicine, is the event’s featured speaker. Her presence will likely call to mind the friendship between Margaret Mitchell and then Morehouse College President, Dr. Benjamin Mays. A less well-known legacy, Mitchell made regular contributions to fund scholarships for Morehouse medical students.
The Atlanta Red Cross has inspired women to give of their time, money (and blood!) for a century with members of Atlanta’s Tiffany Circle accepting the baton to carry this tradition of philanthropy forward. After pausing to honor the past, Atlanta’s Tiffany Circle will strive to increase their ranks and the funds they raise for the Atlanta Red Cross’ ongoing efforts.