George Tannouz volunteers for the American Red Cross in Los Angeles. His spirit of volunteerism was born in 2012, thousands of miles away in the ancient city of Aleppo in Syria during the civil war.
Like many people in their early twenties, George was preoccupied with school, friends, and finding a girl. He also played basketball and hoped to use his talents to pursue his dreams.
That changed quickly. “After the war started, I didn’t want to live in Aleppo anymore,” recalls George. “My dreams, 
my thoughts [of the future] were gone – I only thought about how to survive.”
As the fighting grew worse, it took a toll on George’s will to continue. Friends and family had fled the neighborhood; some had been killed. George felt afraid and alone. Then one day, after talking to a friend who volunteered as an ambulance driver for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), George decided to sign up, too.
That decision changed his life.
To find out more about George and about the worst day in his life, visit redcross.org.
