My Red Cross Story: Chris Ullman

Written by: Rose Ellen O’Connor, volunteer
 
Chris Ullman is a world-champion whistler with a special fondness for the American Red Cross. Last fall, Chris performed at the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region’s headquarters in Fairfax, VA. At the time, volunteers and staff were caught up in the seemingly endless cycle of disasters, ranging from hurricanes to floods, and house fires to wildfires. Chris’s performance was a welcome break.

“People loved it because it’s joyous, sincere, and makes people smile,” Chris says. “They were excited about the performance because most people have never heard a champion whistler.”

Chris says he was inspired by the humanitarian work he saw being done in the National Capitol Region. In his book, Find Your Whistle: Simple Gifts Touch Hearts and Change Lives, Chris invites people to find their special talent and use it to help, one person at a time. He says it could be a motto for the Red Cross. 

“They’re the living message of my book, which is about using your gifts to make the world a better place,” Chris says. “Blood donors and staff and volunteers are all committed to sharing time and love and blood to help people in need.”

Chris’s first encounter with the Red Cross was as a senior at Berner High School in Massapequa, NY. The school sponsored a blood drive and, at age 18, Chris became a blood donor. He last gave blood a few weeks ago and at age 54, has donated 71 pints of blood.

“I have a civic duty to help people in need, so that’s why I donate blood,” Chris says.

Chris began whistling at age five and, according to his website, “whistled incessantly” while he delivered newspapers as a teen. He worked the open microphone circuit in the Washington, DC area in the 1980’s and 90’s, and jammed with jazz bands in college. In his memoir, Chris recounts his varied performances, including whistling for former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in the Oval Office, appearing with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington and whistling at B.B. King’s club in Memphis, TN. Chris has also whistled the National Anthem at numerous national sporting events. He was inducted into the International Whistling Hall of fame in 2012.

He’s been featured on numerous television and radio programs, including the Tonight Show, the Today Show and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” He’s also appeared in People Magazine, Time Magazine and The New York Times. His range of styles includes classical, blues, jazz, Broadway and rock.

Chris, who lives in Alexandria, VA, whistles “Happy Birthday” 525 times a year for friends and family, including his wife, Kristen, and his children, Alydia, 16; Justus, 14; and Aria Noel, 12. As for his day job, he’s director of global communications at The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest investment firms.