Teresa Carlson of Microsoft Chairs “Fire and Ice Ball” held Sat., April 5th.

When Teresa Carlson, General Manager of Microsoft Federal Civilian Government and International Global Organizations, was asked to Chair the Fire and Ice Ball she jumped at the opportunity. Teresa was first introduced to the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area when she attended the 2007 Fire and Ice Ball as a guest of Chapter Board member and IMC Executive Vice President, Suresh Shenoy. Through a series of events, she met Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chair of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross. Teresa traveled with Bonnie to Madagascar where she witnessed first hand the life-saving work of the American Red Cross as the Red Cross volunteers went door to door delivering much needed information about measles and malaria inoculations. When she returned home, she decided then that she would get more involved with her local American Red Cross Chapter. She not only serves as the Chair of the Fire and Ice Ball, she is now a member of the Tiffany Circle, a Red Cross initiative that engages women leaders of our community to help the National Capital Area be the most prepared, fully engaged community in the nation - before, during and after emergencies of all kinds.

Tell me a little about the American Red Cross of the National Capital and the Fire and Ice Ball.

Teresa Carlson: The American Red Cross of the National Capital Area is my local Chapter that is out every single day helping families get back on their feet after fire destroys their home, connecting families with their son or daughter who is serving in our military when a family emergency occurs and teaching people how to be better prepared for emergencies of all kinds. I didn’t realize before I started being more involved with the Chapter that they are not a government agency and are funded by the generosity of our community. With all the work they do every single day, I now truly understand the importance of supporting my local Red Cross.

Our local Red Cross Chapter supports the men and women of our military on several levels. They connect families with their service member during a family emergency. They welcome thousands of wounded service members home to Andrews Air Force Base from Iraq and Afghanistan on their first night back on U.S. soil. They support and supplement staff at military hospitals at Fort Belvoir, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, and National Naval Medical Center to better meet the needs of wounded service members and their families. They provide briefings to service members and their families before deployments so they know the resources available to support them before, during and after their deployments. Locally and around the world, the American Red Cross is committed and passionate about serving the men and women of our military and their families.

The Fire and Ice Ball is THE major fundraising event for the year for the Chapter and I’m honored to be a part. Especially since we are saluting the men and women of our military and their families.

Read the rest of this entry »