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.

Why are you involved with the Fire and Ice Ball as Chair of the event?

Teresa Carlson: My husband is a West Point Graduate and a veteran of the United States Army. As the spouse of a service member, I witnessed first hand, both overseas and locally, the essential help the Red Cross provided to the military and their families. While working at Microsoft with Civilian Government and the Department of Defense, I’ve heard and seen numerous testimonies from military members of how the Red Cross impacts their families through their helping hands. It has been a privilege for me to be part of such a tremendous organization which touches so many lives, locally and around the world, every day. I hope through this gala, we will be able to encourage many more individuals to provide funding and resources, both in time and money, to help our local Red Cross Chapter.

I can’t imagine this community without the American Red Cross. At its most basic core the organization is about neighbor helping neighbor. There are over 4,000 volunteers who serve in our community every single day 24/7. Their involvement with our community every single day is absolutely essential. What they do to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in this community is phenomenal. They deserve my and every one’s engagement. I am committed and passionate about the success and impact our LOCAL Red Cross Chapter makes each and every day in this community.

What is the appeal of this year’s ball? Who will be attending, who will be performing?

Teresa Carlson: We will be saluting the men and women of the military and their families and the essential role the Red Cross plays in support of them. What a time to celebrate them! Many men and women from the military will be attending the Ball including General Barry McCaffrey, staff members from military medical installations in the National Capital Area, Chiefs of Staff of our military branches, recovering wounded service members from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and their families and service members just returned from battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. Select members of the military will be honored as well. It will truly be an inspirational, emotional salute to the men and women of our nation’s Armed Forces and their families. Pete Williams from NBC Nightly News is our guest emcee. Plus, when the formal program is done, we celebrate with festivities and fun when dance band Sound Connection takes the stage.

What is the goal of this year’s Fire and Ice Ball?

Teresa Carlson: This is the Chapter’s largest fundraising event for the year – our goal is to engage this community in supporting our local Red Cross Chapter and to raise significant revenue and resources – which is especially critical during this rough economic period. Many people don’t realize that the Red Cross is not a government agency. They depend on the generosity of our community for the resources and involvement they need to deliver services every day. Funds given to the Red Cross are transformed into food, clothing, and shelter to help meet the immediate needs of people displaced by a disaster. The money raised at the Fire and Ice Ball will help:

…A family get back on their feet after fire destroys their home.

…A son save his father’s life after a heart attack.

…A soldier in Iraq hear his new baby’s cry.

…A wounded soldier home from battle and his family on the road to recovery.

…Two sisters reunite after being separated by the Holocaust.

…Expand our community’s ability to recover from a major disaster.

…Save three people’s lives by donating one pint of blood.

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