Volunteering is ‘a Blessing’ for Lance Mann, Chair of Louisville’s Board

By Kelly Carroll, American Red Cross volunteer

For nearly 25 years, through moving states and jobs, Lance Mann has enthusiastically volunteered with the American Red Cross. Currently, Lance serves as the chair of the Louisville Area Chapter Board of Directors, a role he describes as “a blessing” and a fun and valuable experience. 

Lance started volunteering in the early 2000s in Atlanta as a blood donor to “do something good in the community.” When he moved to Lexington in 2007, he volunteered through his employer, helping with accounting, technology and fundraising, a role that brought him closer to the mission of the Red Cross. When he came to Louisville in 2013, he served on the biomedical volunteer board.

He eventually became the chair of a combined humanitarian and biomedical board. While Lance served on the board, it made significant improvements to its operations that had an “amazing impact.” “Now, the Kentucky chapter biomedical operations are one of the top operating groups in the country. We beat our goals every year,” he said.

Lance Mann, second from right,
with Bingham Fellows

In 2022, leaders asked Lance to become the incoming chair of the Board of Directors. As he finishes the first year of the two-year term, he said it “has been a blessing to be able to experience all the rest that the Red Cross has” to offer, citing the successful smoke alarm campaigns, building construction, effective disaster responses and Wrapped in Red Gala. “It’s been quite a bit of fun.”

Lance shared a few of the Kentucky region’s achievements. Following the devastating tornadoes in Bowling Green and Western Kentucky in 2021, they received a request for blood products that same day. “We were able to make it happen because we had the supply and we had the team who could make it happen,” he said.

The organization’s “Sound the Alarm” campaign has saved lives by installing smoke alarms throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana at no cost to homeowners. The Red Cross estimates the number of lives saved since the campaign’s inception in 2014 to be in the low 90s. “I think the Kentucky Red Cross team is one of the best in the country. I’m just grateful to be able to learn from them…,” Lance said.

Lance is the father of four children and works at Dean Dorton in Louisville. He and his wife both prioritize volunteer work. “It gives us energy,” he said of volunteering. He emphasized he would “wholeheartedly” recommend volunteering to others. To back up his recommendation, he cites the lifelong friends he’s made through serving with the Red Cross and the satisfaction of giving back to the local community.