WACC Evening Speaker Series | The Red Cross In SC and the World
February 03, 2026 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Charleston Library Society | 164 King St.
Charleston, SC 29401
Venue website
Directions
PARTNER PROGRAM WITH CHARLESTON LIBRARY SOCIETY. REGISTER IN ADVANCE HERE!
The Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross delivers lifesaving and humanitarian services across nine counties from Georgetown to Beaufort. Their impact is felt every day—responding to home fires, preparing communities for hurricanes, supporting the Armed Forces, and advancing the vital mission of blood collection.
The Red Cross is also part of the world's largest humanitarian organization--the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)--that works to save lives, build community resilience, and promote dignity around the world. These international efforts range from Ukraine to Gaza to Sudan, and their impact cannot be overstated. Missions like these have been recognized with three Nobel Prizes.
On February 3rd, we'll hear from a panel of speakers from the American Red Cross led by retired Ambassador Tom Carter. Meaghan Silsby, Executive Director of the Lowcountry American Red Cross, and Ivan Sterpin will highlight the efforts of the Restoring Family Links program, an initiative in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that helps reunite families separated by armed conflict, natural disasters, migration, and other humanitarian crises. Another central part of this mission is advancing awareness of International Humanitarian Law, the set of rules designed to protect civilians and those no longer participating in armed conflict.
Ambassador Tom Carter presently serves on the Low Country Red Cross Board of Directors. He has served at the highest levels of the U.S. government, including the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the Departments of Defense and State. He was an instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force and has flown commercially. As U.S. representative to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Amb. Carter represented the United States on all international aviation issues within the UN from 2017-2020. He now lives in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Meaghan Silsby was appointed executive director of the American Red Cross Lowcountry Chapter in April 2025, where she leads disaster preparedness, blood services, and humanitarian response across Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Hampton, Jasper, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties. Ms. Silsby partners with civic, government, and donor communities to support local disaster relief efforts and ensure a steady supply of lifesaving blood. Passionate about community resilience, she works alongside nearly 700 volunteers who annually respond to hundreds of local emergencies. Ms. Silsby has a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Columbia University.
The Red Cross is also part of the world's largest humanitarian organization--the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)--that works to save lives, build community resilience, and promote dignity around the world. These international efforts range from Ukraine to Gaza to Sudan, and their impact cannot be overstated. Missions like these have been recognized with three Nobel Prizes.
On February 3rd, we'll hear from a panel of speakers from the American Red Cross led by retired Ambassador Tom Carter. Meaghan Silsby, Executive Director of the Lowcountry American Red Cross, and Ivan Sterpin will highlight the efforts of the Restoring Family Links program, an initiative in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that helps reunite families separated by armed conflict, natural disasters, migration, and other humanitarian crises. Another central part of this mission is advancing awareness of International Humanitarian Law, the set of rules designed to protect civilians and those no longer participating in armed conflict.
Ambassador Tom Carter presently serves on the Low Country Red Cross Board of Directors. He has served at the highest levels of the U.S. government, including the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the Departments of Defense and State. He was an instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force and has flown commercially. As U.S. representative to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Amb. Carter represented the United States on all international aviation issues within the UN from 2017-2020. He now lives in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Meaghan Silsby was appointed executive director of the American Red Cross Lowcountry Chapter in April 2025, where she leads disaster preparedness, blood services, and humanitarian response across Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Hampton, Jasper, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties. Ms. Silsby partners with civic, government, and donor communities to support local disaster relief efforts and ensure a steady supply of lifesaving blood. Passionate about community resilience, she works alongside nearly 700 volunteers who annually respond to hundreds of local emergencies. Ms. Silsby has a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Columbia University.
Ivan Sterpin is the Director of Service to Armed Forces and International Services for the American Red Cross South Carolina Region, overseeing programs like International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the Youth Action Campaign, and Restoring Family Links. A retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant with over 20 years of active duty and multiple deployments around the globe, he now leads teams that support service members, veterans, and their families through readiness, resiliency, and family connection services. Ivan also educates community members on the rules of war and the importance of humanitarian neutrality.
