by Rebecca Boehm
“I watched those towers go up,” said New York-born and raised Howard Ferrucci of the Twin Towers in New York City. “That’s, why it was important to be there to help.”
After 28 years volunteering with the American Red Cross, Howard Ferrucci is being honored as our representative in throwing the first pitch at the Mariners’ game this September 11th.
Ferrucci has worked in bulk distribution, damage assessment, and mass care–which provides hot meals, shelter and other support to people who are in the grip of a disaster. He was a mass care manager for the Seattle chapter for seven years. Last month, he was on the frontline of the devastating Washington wildfires, where he spearheaded the mass care effort for nine days of a complex and demanding emergency response.
Though Ferrucci has lived in the Northwest for decades, New York was his childhood home. He returned to his home state following the attacks on September 11, 2001 to work at Red Cross mass care headquarters in Brooklyn. He and fellow Red Cross volunteers supported multiple feeding sites to care for the workers on Ground Zero, at respite centers, the FBI, and family relocation centers. Ferrucci and other Red Cross members worked twelve hour shifts to operate the mass care center 24 hours a day. With all the stress that comes from managing such a large scale operation, why did he stay with the Red Cross for so many years? He answers, “I believe in the Red Cross mission.”
This Friday, September 11, at Safeco Field the Mariners will be honoring the impact of the Red Cross’ response during the 9/11 attacks. “It’s an honor to be able to do that, and that the Red Cross was recognized,” he says. Come out to show your support as Ferrucci takes the mound; the game starts at 7:10.
American Red Cross NW Region 