Author Archives: Michelle Limpe

Laura’s Lesson from Alaska: Appreciating the Communities We Serve

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Laura (in purple) with other Red Cross volunteers who deployed to the same shelter in Anchorage. 

Being called to assist those whose lives have been upended by a natural disaster is not only an opportunity to provide aid and service. A deployment is also a unique opportunity for cultural exchange, and Laura Hovden’s deployment to Alaska in the wake of Typhoon Halong in October 2025 was a testament to that.  

Laura first got involved in local disaster management volunteer opportunities with the American Red Cross in 2014. Once her children left home for college, she left her own backyard to deploy to natural disasters across the country. She focused on organizing shelters during her initial deployments, but she soon secured more responsibilities as part of the Mass Care team that manages relief operations for larger natural disasters.

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The Heart of a Shelter: Jodi Wallace’s Strategic Lead in the Alaska Typhoon Recovery 

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Jodi Wallace in Alaska after Typhoon Halong

For American Red Cross volunteer Jodi Wallace, the call to deploy to natural disasters is a lifelong mission. Most recently, she was one of the many volunteers that deployed to Alaska to aid the thousands of survivors affected by the destruction of Typhoon Halong last October.  

Referring to herself as a “Katrina baby,” Jodi has been deploying to natural disasters since Hurricane Katrina. When she first heard the call for Red Cross volunteers on the television and radio, she signed up and began her journey assisting in the shelters.  

“I realized that sheltering was really something near and dear to my heart, so I stayed with it. For at least the first 16 years, I predominantly ran shelters as a shelter manager because that is really what I loved and was passionate about,” she said. “For the last four years, I started doing other things, but my favorite is being Mass Care Chief because it keeps me close to sheltering.” 

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American Red Cross NCCR Volunteers Provide Relief to Thousands of Alaskan Survivors of Typhoon Halong

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When American Red Cross volunteer Karl Matzke, from Santa Clara County, received the call to organize a team and deploy to Alaska, there was no hesitation in his decision to go. As one of the Divisional Leads for Operations Management, he ran the operations for the first shelter that opened in Alaska just three days after Typhoon Halong devastated the region on October 12.

October 22, 2025. Anchorage, Alaska.
The American Red Cross deployed hundreds of Red Cross disaster workers from across the country to help during what could be a prolonged relief response from Typhoon Halong.
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From wildfire survivor to Red Cross donor, Selma continues to pay it forward

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In 2017, the infamous Tubbs Fire wrecked numerous counties in Northern California, notably the Napa, Sonoma, and Lake Counties, destroying more than half of the homes in the area and displacing over 100,000 people. Starting on Oct. 8, the wildfire burned for 23 days until it was finally put out on Oct. 31. The Tubbs Fire became known as the most destructive fire in California at the time it happened, which left many fire victims with the burden of rebuilding their lives.

Selma Vandermade was unfortunately one of the many affected by the fires in Santa Rosa, which bore the brunt of the Tubbs Fire’s destruction. Having been supported by the American Red Cross herself during this tragic situation, Selma has been returning the favor as a prominent Red Cross donor and Tiffany Circle member.

Selma recalled the night of the fire itself, describing the moment when she had to leave her beloved home.

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Leading Communities of Women: Amy Dornbusch’s Philanthropy with the Red Cross 

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In the philanthropic community, women are increasingly shaping how we champion impact, and Amy Dornbusch stands at the forefront of this movement. With a distinguished career in startup investments and having held numerous board positions, Dornbusch brings a unique blend of strategic business planning and deep empathy to her initiatives. Her years of dedicated philanthropy eventually led her to the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle, where she continues to inspire other women to collectively give and mobilize the vital work of our organization. 

Amy Dornbusch shows off her red bandage following her blood donation, which she made prior to attending the 30th Anniversary Red Cross Gala.

The Tiffany Circle is a community within the Red Cross composed of women leaders that have made a commitment to advancing the organization’s mission together through women empowerment and focused investment of time and funds. With economists projecting that roughly $30 trillion will move into women’s hands over the next few years, Dornbusch observes that the impending great wealth transfer places women in an integral position to make significant impacts through their philanthropic work, emphasizing the importance of the Tiffany Circle as a key mechanism for engaging donors. 

“We talk a lot about this ‘fight or flight or freeze’ response to crises, but I heard there’s another reaction, which is what women do in moments of crises: flight, freeze, and flock,” Dornbusch said.

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Melody Yamaguchi’s lifelong service to the Red Cross mission 

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For many people, donating blood to the American Red Cross is not just a single act but a lifelong commitment to the humanitarian mission. Melody Yamaguchi is one of the super donors that has been donating blood since she was 18 years old, after getting inspired by her older sister. Through the changes and challenges in Melody’s life, she always found her way back to serving the mission of the Red Cross.  

Melody’s smile shines through a lifetime of change and challenges.

“During my cancer imaging, surgeries and radiation, my children and I were scared. All my energy went into supporting my children and finding my courage within.”

“I’m not an exceptional person, but through Red Cross blood donation, I’ve had the ability to do something extraordinary.”

–Melody Yamaguchi

Melody embraces the moment in her youth with a timeless look.
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