The American Red Cross has hired New Orleans native Kenneth St. Charles to lead the organization in Louisiana at a time when the frequency and intensity of disasters has made emergency aid more critical than ever.
The former President and CEO of St. Augustine High School and retired U.S. Army officer will oversee fundraising, disaster management and the organization’s vast network of volunteers.
St. Charles, who holds a Ph.D. in educational administration, will lead 40 employees and over 1,100 volunteers as the Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Louisiana region and Executive Director for the Southeast Louisiana Chapter. He brings fundraising experience from his role at the Greater New Orleans Foundation, where he raised over $8 million in three months after Hurricane Ida.
“I am honored and humbled beyond words to join such a historic and important organization at this critical time in our history,” St. Charles said in a statement. “The support and life-saving assistance provided across the Louisiana region is unique in so many ways, made even more so by the diverse cadre of Red Crossers, donors and partners that make our work possible.”
An American Red Cross van arrives in Arabi, La.,Thursday, March 24, 2022, after a tornado ripped through the neighborhood Tuesday night. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
During his five years as President and CEO of St. Augustine, St. Charles raised $11 million for student support while overseeing a renovation. He has also held posts at Randolph College, Xavier University of Louisiana and the United Negro College Fund.
St. Charles deployed to Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm in 2003 and retired as a Lieutentant Colonel of the United States Army after 30 years of active service. He is a board member of the Bureau of Governmental Research, The Times-Picayune, the Pro Bono Publico Foundation and the DePaul/Daughters of Charity New Orleans Foundation.
In Louisiana, the American Red Cross responds to over 1,600 house fires yearly, provides fire safety and emergency preparedness training, installs free smoke alarms, staffs first aid stations along parade routes and deploys to areas struck by disaster.