The Power of Community: CEO Kellie O'Connell, '98, Leads American Red Cross of Illinois
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Kellie O'Connell, '98, CEO, American Red Cross of Illinois (Photo: American Red Cross of Illinois)
When Kellie O’Connell, ’98, stood inside Wrigley Field in the early days of the pandemic, she wasn’t watching a game—she was helping feed thousands of people. As CEO of Nourishing Hope, she helped transform the stadium into a lifeline overnight.
For O’Connell, it was a defining moment in a career built on community and a deep commitment to service.
“The power of community is reaffirmed in times of crisis,” she said. “This was one of my proudest moments of my entire career. In partnership with the Chicago Cubs, we turned the iconic Wrigley Field into a food pantry—literally overnight—by harnessing the strength of our community.”
O’Connell led Nourishing Hope for over nine years before stepping into her current role as CEO of the American Red Cross of Illinois. Prior to that, she held leadership positions across the nonprofit sector, including senior vice president, strategic planning and public affairs at the Chicago Housing Authority.
O'Connell has spent her life building, nurturing and leading communities. From her formative years in the Catholic community to her time at NIU, where she found purpose and belonging through the Newman Catholic Center’s student ministry, her path has been guided by the desire to work alongside strong communities.
A Compassionate Commitment
O’Connell brought her belief in community and service to a new challenge when she joined the American Red Cross of Illinois in February 2025. She quickly gained a deeper understanding of the organization’s vast scope—and the essential role volunteers and communities play in its mission.
“People often think of the Red Cross for two things,” O’Connell said. “Either disaster response, like after a big hurricane, wildfire or tornado, or blood drives. While both are true—in fact, the Red Cross provides 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply—in Illinois, a lot of our disasters are home fires or multi-family dwelling fires.”
According to O’Connell, volunteers make up roughly 90 percent of the Red Cross of Illinois’ workforce and are usually the first to respond when families are displaced.
“Day and night they comfort families—often on the curb—and help them figure out what’s next,” she said. “Red Cross volunteers are the support system after the fire department leaves.”
She continued, “Our mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. In addition to helping people recover and rebuild their lives after a disaster, we also do a lot of preparedness work.”
Preparing individuals and communities involves providing first aid and CPR training, forming partnerships with local organizations and churches, and implementing a home fire safety campaign that includes installing free smoke alarms and offering youth programming.
Beyond disaster response and preparedness, the Red Cross also supports members of the military—from enlistment to veteran status.
“For example, if a service member experiences a family emergency, such as illness or death, the Red Cross helps ensure they can return home—sometimes even traveling with them,” O’Connell said.
As CEO, O’Connell’s work centers on running the business, securing philanthropic support, and engaging donors and volunteers to sustain critical services.
“I honor the donor dollar and help us lead with integrity,” she said. “Being able to work with thousands of humanitarians in Illinois and across the country is incredibly rewarding. When you think of nonprofits, you think of the Red Cross brand. It’s such a symbol of hope.”
Early Lessons in Service
O’Connell’s values were shaped early on by the example of her parents. Her father held various roles in county and state government, including administrative work for Cook County, and her mother built a career in the central office of the Chicago Public School District before supporting Head Start programs in Northwest Indiana.
Growing up on Chicago’s west and south sides, O’Connell was immersed in the values of the Catholic community. Attending Mother McAuley High School, she participated in service projects and served on the Archdiocesan Youth Council, where her interest in social justice and mission work was sparked.
“I was raised in an environment that was always thinking about how we can serve our community and what we are called to do as humans in the world, and in our city,” she said. “It truly shaped me.”
Kellie O'Connell prepares to donate blood at NBC 5 Chicago's blood drive. (Photo: American Red Cross of Illinois)Building Bonds at NIU
O’Connell first arrived at NIU as a music major, drawn by the university’s strong music program after years of performing in theater, musicals and the choir, as well as playing the piano. Although she soon realized music was more of a passion than a career path, she found a sense of community on the music floor of Gilbert Hall.
“I explored a couple of different majors and landed on sociology,” she said. “It helped me put a framework around the community service work I was already doing. I began to understand the structural inequalities that existed in our world—how they came to be, and how to best engage communities in meaningful change.”
As a resident advisor in her second year, O’Connell refined her ability to lead and engage in courageous conversations with peers. But it was the Newman Catholic Center that truly anchored her NIU experience.
“I was really connected to the service-building and character development opportunities at the Newman Center,” she said. “It was instrumental in developing who I was. I found a group of like-minded students who became my core group of friends, and we’re still connected today through a group text called the ‘Newman Crew.’”
From Insight to Action
As she looks into the future, O’Connell is exploring ways to scale the Red Cross’s impact through innovation by leveraging data and technology to make services faster, more equitable and more responsive.
Whether it’s identifying gaps in service among underserved populations or piloting new tools to improve disaster response, she remains committed to unlocking solutions that meet people where they are.
“It’s about being creative in how we deliver services, so we’re truly giving people the best support possible,” she said. “Regardless of where you’re born, everyone deserves the opportunity to have access to the things they need to thrive.”
For NIU students considering a career in service or social impact, O’Connell offers heartfelt advice.
“I can’t imagine growing up not wanting to make the world a better place,” she said. “But it’s not linear. Start by getting involved. Volunteer. Above all, stay connected to the communities that give you strength. The friendships I built at NIU still ground me today.”
O’Connell’s message is a reminder that community isn’t just something you serve, it’s something you carry with you.
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