Meet Tammy Moore, a member of the American Red Cross National Leadership Council and Salute to Service Gala committee.
Moore spoke with WashingtonExec about her personal ties to the American Red Cross and why the Salute to Service Gala utilizes its funds the best when compared to other large black-tie events. WashingtonExec also asked Moore how she would describe the underlying message of the Gala and fundraising goals for this year.
WashingtonExec: Can you tell us a little about your background and what got you involved with the American Red Cross Salute to Service Gala?
Tammy Moore: I serve on the American Red Cross National Leadership Council. In my role, I advise the President of the Red Cross on policy, strategy, and operational matters relating to our line of business called Service to the Armed Forces. I first became involved with the Red Cross as a young person growing up in a military community. I’m an Army brat and I’m married to a soldier. I’ve moved 14 times in the last 20 years. I support the organization’s strategic priorities and initiatives through community engagement and advocacy. I’ve worked in community chapters around the country and on military installations in support of service members, military families, and veterans.
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“The American Red Cross is the greatest humanitarian organization the world has ever known. Our founding mission is one of providing care and comfort to service members. There is no other organization that can make that claim. Our founding mission goes back to Clara Barton when she offered care and comfort to Union soldiers on the battlefield – that’s the very reason we exist. Who else can even make that claim?”
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WashingtonExec: What made you want to take more of a leadership role with the organization?
Tammy Moore: My father served in the Army and so I grew up in a military community where the Red Cross was ever present. When I was a young person, my best friend and I volunteered as Candy Stripers at the hospital on Fort Bragg. What I remember most about the experience was how people in the hospital responded to our Red Cross uniforms…like we were doing something important and special. It made an impression on me.
Linda Mathes, National Capital Region CEO, asked me if I would serve on the Gala Committee and I said, yes, of course! I accepted a leadership role with the Red Cross because I wanted to deepen my commitment to an organization whose mission aligned with my personal values and principles, where I could leverage my experience and professional knowledge to help define the service that best meets the emerging needs of our nation’s heroes, their families and veterans; and where my efforts would have positive, meaningful impact.
WashingtonExec: How would you describe the Salute to Service Gala in two words?
Tammy Moore: Honor and thanks.
WashingtonExec: You changed the name of the gala from Fire & Ice to Salute to Service. What are your thoughts on the name change?
Tammy Moore: The name change reflects exactly what the event is. It’s a salute to service; honoring and thanking the women & men in uniform and their families.
WashingtonExec: What is your favorite part or what are you looking forward to?
Tammy Moore: Our nation’s heroes will be able to relax, kick back and enjoy themselves, have fun with their colleagues, friends and supporters and be honored. This night is all about them and that’s what I’m looking forward to.
WashingtonExec: How much money do you plan to raise this year?
Tammy Moore: We hope to raise over half a million dollars. We’re on track and people can still purchase tickets from our website at www.redcrossnca.org. You can also call the National Capital Chapter at 703-584-7400 to get tickets. We have a great silent auction as part of the event too, as well as a live auction for a trip to New Orleans!
WashingtonExec: Are you all on target?
Tammy Moore: We are.
WashingtonExec: What makes the Salute to Service Gala different, unique or special compared to other black tie events in the DC area?
Tammy Moore: The American Red Cross is the greatest humanitarian organization the world has ever known. Our founding mission is one of providing care and comfort to service members. There is no other organization that can make that claim. Our founding mission goes back to Clara Barton when she offered care and comfort to Union soldiers on the battlefield – that’s the very reason we exist. Who else can even make that claim?
WashingtonExec: Where does the money raised from the Salute to Service Gala go exactly?
Tammy Moore: We turn that money into direct service. We are able to staff our emergency communications center 24/7 and 365, somebody is there all of the time. That communication center is always open, it never closes. We’re able to get those messages through to service members deployed around the world; ships at sea, embassies, everywhere. We are able to provide the casualty travel assist program where we will send two immediate family members to the bedside of a service member if they are ill, injured or, in a worst case scenario, to a memorial service. That is significant for a family to have to not have to worry about those added expenses during a difficult time. That’s really, really important. The generous financial support of donors makes this type of service possible.
WashingtonExec: Is there anything else you can think of that you would like to add?
Tammy Moore: Yes, to address deployment challenges, there’s a Coping with Deployments workshop. It helps families throughout the deployment stages and; in the beginning it’s the Coping with the Deployments that helps families develop resiliency strategies on how to manage during the deployment and then upon return there is the Coming Home Series that focuses on the transition and reintegration back into the family building on communication skills. These workshops help with the mental health piece of it and we consider this psychological first aid. We want service members, their families and veterans to know we’re here 24/7 to offer support.
