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American Red Cross, American Red Cross New Hampshire, American Red Cross NH, Board of Directors, Executive Committee Red Cross NH, Fred Coolbroth, Jr, NH, Red Cross New Hampshire, Sr, volunteer spotlight, Volunteering
Okay, so most of us are used to seeing Red Cross shelter tents and brightly-colored volunteers at disaster sites, blood drives, and public service events across the New Hampshire region and wherever people are impacted by disaster in the US and around the world.
Let’s call this the Public Face of the Red Cross.
But there are a few volunteers, like Fred Coolbroth, Jr., who do important Red Cross work that most people never even think about. These are the faceless few who organize and manage everything from budgets and fundraisers toeducation and testing programs, medical transportation, personnel recruitment and disaster response resources.
Leading the way in this behind-the-scenes work is the New Hampshire Region’s Board of Directors, a group of professionals, business owners and community leaders from across the state who form the backbone of American Red Cross New Hampshire.
Let’s call this the Private Face of the Red Cross.
“As a member of the Board of Directors, these volunteers are often somewhat removed from our day to day mission work. They don’t work with disaster victims or meet military families who request our help, and they don’t always see the work of the Red Cross in action,” said Maria White-Devlin, CEO of Red Cross New Hampshire. “Instead, Board Members like Fred have faith that this organization is serving the community in unique and amazing ways. Without the hard work of dedicated people like Fred, we would not be able to help those who need us during their most desperate times.”
So, who is this Fred Coolbroth, Jr., guy?
Good question. The first thing you ought to know is that Fred is actually the second “Fred Coolbroth” to sit on the Board of Directors. Fred Coolbroth, Sr., was a longtime Red Cross volunteer and a member of its Board of Directors for many years.
“I learned about these opportunities through my father,” the younger Fred said. “I deeply believe in the American Red Cross mission of alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies.”
Fred Coolbroth, Jr., has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2008.
Fred lives in Concord with his wife, Lexie, where he is a successful tax and corporate attorney at Rath, Young and Pignatelli, P.C.Prior to joining the New Hampshire Region Board of Directors, Fred was a member of the Board of Directors of the Granite Chapter. And each year he still comes out from behind the curtain to volunteer at the annual Heroes Breakfast, honoring ordinary citizens and groups from across the state who took extraordinary measures to help out a neighbor in need. The local impact of the Red Cross work is especially important to Fred.