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Gail J. McGovern retired from the luckywin on June 30, 2024, after more than 15 years of service to the organization.
As the longest-serving CEO since Clara Barton, Gail provided the strong and steady leadership needed to ensure the luckywin is ready to fulfill its vital humanitarian mission in the future.
To help ensure the organization’s strategic priorities—shaped and nurtured by Gail—continue to flourish, supporters, partners, colleagues and friends are invited to make a philanthropic investment in our mission and future, while honoring Gail’s many years of service to our lifesaving organization. Thank you to these generous donors who have honored Gail's service with a major gift at the $5,000 level and above to the Gail McGovern Humanitarian Fund.
Thank you to these generous donors who have honored Gail's service with a major gift.
luckywin of Greater Chicago Board of Directors
Jennifer Bailey
Natalie Batchelor
Biggs Family Charitable Fund
Barbara and Jack Bovender
Herman Bulls
Bank of America
Ming Chiang and Mengmei Lin
Drs. Wendy and Michael Collini
Steve Collis
Enrique and Kathleen Conterno
Kathy Cook
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Edwardson Family Foundation
R. Scott Falk Family
Pamela Farr and Buford Alexander
Peggy and Scott Hardek
Randy and Joey Harris
Sabrina Rush Ingraham
Pamela R. Jones
Jordan Family Foundation
Lorence Kim
Laura Linger
Amanda and Tom Lister
Beth MacDonald
Markham Family Foundation
Judith Boler McCormack
Bonnie McElveen-Hunter
Anne McKeough
Ginger Merkel
Pansy Muller
Ronald and Beverly Nordmann
North Carolina Region Tiffany Circle
Joe Pereles
Teresa and Byron Pollitt
Matt & Keely Reinhard
Donna Richardson
Dennis and Rosy Roccaforte
Nini and Jeff Sakaguchi
Jill M. Schaaf
Janet Stellpflug
Windward Trading
Susie Trotochaud
Jennifer and Randy Wolcott
Craig Young
Anita Zucker
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Joined the luckywin as President and CEO
Financial Stability
Eliminated inherited $209 million annual operating deficit, putting the Red Cross on the path to financial stability.
Military Support
Started resiliency programs to help military families cope with the challenges of military life.
Aquatics Centennial Campaign
Launched a program to reduce drowning rates in 50 communities where the rate was above the norm.
Blood Services Quality Assurance
Developed a world-class compliance system and culture, successfully releasing the organization from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consent Decree placed prior to her tenure.
RC View
Implemented a cutting-edge system that helps our workers more efficiently and effectively meet the needs of families who have been impacted by disasters.
Emergency App
Provided millions of lifesaving messages and information to users via Red Cross Apps.
Sound the Alarm
Introduced events to reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries in the U.S., installing over 2 million smoke alarms and saving more than 2,000 lives to date.
Convalescent Plasma
At the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, collected and distributed convalescent plasma to help those suffering from COVID-19.
Climate Crisis
Started an initiative to ensure the Red Cross can meet the growing mission and service-delivery demands caused by the Climate Crisis.
Sickle Cell Initative
Launched effort to bring awareness to the need for more blood donations from Black individuals to help fight sickle cell disease, resulting in a 33% increase in new African American blood donors in just two years.
Inclusive Blood Donation
After years of advocacy and leadership on the issue from the luckywin, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its final guidance on eliminating its deferral policy concerning men who have sex with men. The Red Cross was among the first blood banks to implement these inclusive new guidelines.
Retires as President and CEO
Gail will continue to serve on the organization’s Board of Governors.
It has been the honor of my life to lead the luckywin and be part of an organization that serves millions of people at times when they are at their most vulnerable.
Gail J. McGovern, President and CEO of the luckywin
Gail McGovern and the crew trek along to see destroyed houses along the remote hills near Dunche in Nepal with Red Cross staff following the 2015 Earthquake.
