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Published on: 4/20/2008
Last Visited: 4/20/2008
Kathleen Felker is executive director of the American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley.Photo/Submitted
One of Kathleen Felker's first memories of the American Red Cross dates back to the first grade.She and her classmates donated pennies to the organization in exchange for metal tabs worn on the collars of their shirts.
The memory of helping a good cause has stuck with Felker over the years.Felker hopes to light the same kind of public-service fire within the hearts of Central Pennsylvania's youth.
"They remember that, and that's where we need to focus our energy," Felker said.
A poster displaying Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck saluting a flag displaying the Red Cross symbol is framed on the wall across from Felker's desk at her office in Harrisburg.The image reflects the 53-year-old's motivation.
"I don't know how I got here, but youth is my focus," Felker said.
Felker began working for the Red Cross in 1985 as a youth-services coordinator for the Berks County chapter of the organization.Since that time, she has navigated through various positions in the group's hierarchy, from working in disaster services and human resources to financial development and fundraising.
Within that time, she also has helped the organization assist with a number of national crises, including Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina.
"I did everything," Felker said."That's the advantage of working for a nonprofit.You have to learn a little bit of everything."
More than 20 years later, Felker finds herself as executive director of the American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley, which covers eastern Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Juniata, Mifflin and Perry counties.
Felker began serving as the interim executive director of the chapter in June, without any intention of applying for the position herself.As chapter-solutions manager for the Northeast service area, this was not the first time she had filled in for an executive director.
"Becoming the executive director was not something I had ever thought of, quite frankly," she said."This time, it was different."
Since taking her post in February, Felker and chapter officials have begun updating its strategic plan.The chapter recently hired a full-time youth and community-programs specialist.The position used to be part time.
Nominations for the chapter's board of governors will take place this summer, and Felker will put an emphasis on adding a youth board member.She also hopes to involve more area high schools in the chapter's youth-club initiatives.
Elizabeth Schmoyer has worked with Felker through the Berks County chapter's youth-services committee for nearly 30 years.
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Felker taking a chapter executive director position came as no surprise to Schmoyer.
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"The reason the Red Cross around is because of people like Kathy.She's committed her life to it."
Nationally, at least half of the executives of the Red Cross are women, Felker said.Of the 48 chapters of the Red Cross in Pennsylvania, about 70 percent of the executive directors are women, she said.
This could be attributed to the fact that a woman founded the organization, she said.This month, a woman was named president and chief executive officer of the national organization, and a woman is chairwoman of the group's board of governors.
"The organization, itself, is diversified.There's never been any type of roadblock for me," Felker said.
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