American Red Cross Celebrates 2024 Local Heroes: Eighteen extraordinary individuals to be honored at the 2024 Red Cross Heroes Breakfast

The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago announces the 2024 class of heroes to be honored at the annual Red Cross Heroes Breakfast. The class of Red Cross Heroes are an exemplary group of individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to build better communities, and who have made a lasting impact on others in the process.

The Heroes Breakfast was established to raise public awareness of local heroes who exemplify the values of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross. Since 2002, the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago has celebrated more than two hundred extraordinary individuals who have made a personal commitment to creating safer and stronger communities and providing help when disaster strikes.

This is the 22^nd year the Red Cross is honoring a class of heroes at our Heroes Breakfast, attended by hundreds of individuals from across Chicagoland. This year’s event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the Hilton Chicago. Over the past 22 years, through the generosity of the corporate and individual donor community, the annual Chicago Heroes Breakfast has raised millions of dollars for the humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross.

“For the past 22 years, community heroes have graced our breakfast— each dedicated to serving others, saving lives, and providing hope during someone’s darkest moments. I am honored to relay the humanitarian stories of generosity and compassion from each hero and to reflect on the power of the Red Cross mission,” said Celena Roldán Sarillo, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois.

The 2024 Class of Heroes

Heroes in twelve community service categories are being honored this year. Honorees were chosen by an independent committee of leaders in the business and civic community. The Red Cross pays tribute to the 2024 class of heroes through their stories of inspiration outlined below:

Chez Smith of Chicago Heights and Venisha Bonds of Dolton are the Blood Services Heroes.

Gyrls in the H.O.O.D, a Chicago-based non-profit is dedicated to empowering young women with a “Healthy, Optimistic, Outstanding, and Determined” foundation. Led by Chez Smith and Venisha Bonds, the organization launched a free phlebotomy training program to help address workforce challenges faced by women. Recognizing the financial struggles of many of the participants, the organization covered the cost of tuition, books, medical scrubs, and the state exam. With several certified students, Gyrls in the H.O.O.D is helping supply skilled phlebotomists to aid in a crucial field.

Jacqueline Reed of Chicago is the Disaster Relief Hero.

As a longtime Austin resident and community advocate, Jacqueline Reed spearheaded relief efforts in the aftermath of record-breaking floods that devastated the neighborhood in July 2023. As the chair of the Westside Long Term Recovery Group, Reed mobilized resources and volunteers, which have since helped about 75 homes become habitable. Reed’s dedication highlights her lifelong commitment in Austin to building community resilience and supporting those in need.

Steve and Sheila Conner of Oak Park are the Education Heroes.

Steve and Sheila Conner, motivated by their son Stone’s disinterest in traditional math and science education, launched the HEPH Foundation in 2014 to revolutionize STEM learning. Utilizing innovative approaches to learning, such as gaming, sports, and music, the foundation’s materials engage students and foster a lifelong passion for science and technology. Through tailored programs and partnerships with schools in the Chicagoland area and beyond, the Conners have engaged about 20,000 learners in STEM via the program they designed.

Patty Samar of Chicago is the Healthcare Hero.

Patty Samar worked at Rush Medical Center as an apheresis nurse when she met Kirk, a dialysis patient. Samar befriended Kirk and when she learned that his donated kidney was failing, she helped launch a search campaign to find a live donor. Samar also decided to get tested and when she learned she was a match for Kirk’s kidney donation, Samar did not hesitate to give Kirk the lifesaving gift of one of her kidneys.

Nicholas DeLeon of Chicago is the Firefighter Hero.

On July 13, 2023, Firefighter/Paramedic Nicholas DeLeon was on duty at the fire station and was assigned to cook for his colleagues when he realized he needed additional groceries for that evening’s dinner. While at the grocery store, DeLeon encountered an active shooter situation and quickly dialed 9-1-1 for help after which he searched for fellow shoppers to usher them out safely and attend to anyone injured by the shooter.

Nancy Economou of Downers Grove is the Global Citizenship Hero.

As the founder of Watts of Love, Nancy Economou works to provide sustainable solar lighting solutions to communities in need across the globe. After witnessing the dangerous effects of families using kerosene for illumination in the Philippines, she designed a solar light to aid these communities and also to help promote financial literacy, by enabling families to save funds previously spent on kerosene or batteries for entrepreneurship and education, Watts of Love empowers recipients via solar power and also helps them achieve additional financial freedom.

Angela Thompson of Chicago is the Community Impact Hero.

Angela Thompson is a devoted Chicago Public School Safety Crossing Guard, stationed on a busy southside corner, who not only impacts the lives of children daily with her kindness and care on the job, but also through her cherished annual holiday toy drive. Over the past 14 years, Angela has organized this heartwarming initiative, initially single-handedly and now with support from her community. Since 2009, her efforts have reached 3,000 families in the Chicagoland area, highlighting her remarkable commitment to spread love and joy to children.

Kenneth Griffin of Chicago is the Law Enforcement Hero.

Kenneth Griffin, a Chicago Police Youth Officer, founded the non-profit ’No Matter What’ in 2015 with a mission to invest in and support youth to reach their highest potential despite obstacles. Through mentorship, financial literacy, career readiness training, travel and mental health, Griffin works to connect youth to opportunities outside of their neighborhood and simultaneously help them discover the potential within themselves.

Daniel Viayra Chavez of Aurora and Josh Elrod of Sandwich are the Lifesaving Rescue Heroes.

On September 19, 2023, Daniel Viayra Chavez and Josh Elrod, water department employees with the City of Aurora, were doing routine maintenance work on an Aurora neighborhood sewer when they heard cries for ’ayuda’ (help). Both Viayra Chavez and Elrod ran and found an Aurora resident holding an unresponsive one-year-old who was not breathing. Viayra Chavez immediately began performing CPR while Elrod phoned 9-1-1 for help, their efforts helped the child to begin to breathe.

Fred Williams, Jr. of Waukegan is the Military Hero.

Fred Williams, Jr., a veteran of the United States Air Force, serves as the Member Services Manager at the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), where he has mentored and guided approximately 1,000+ youth aged 16 to 24. YCC members, through coaching and mentorship, complete their high school degree and receive training in skilled trades or IT. Inspired by his military background, Fred instills belief and support in the program’s members, emphasizing their potential for success.

Matt DeMateo of Chicago is the Social Justice Hero.

Matt DeMateo, Executive Director at New Life Centers, an arm of New Life Community Church, provides youth programs covering mentorship, education, sports, peace-making, and community care to over 1,700 people each year. Since May 2023, New Life Centers via Matt’s leadership are also a major part of the support and response efforts assisting the recently arrived migrants, by caring for those in shelters and helping over 1,400 families move into permanent housing.

Declan Devlin, Tiernan Devlin, Tommy Nitti, and Charlie Valero of Glen Ellyn are the Youth Heroes.

On a Saturday evening, shortly after school had let out for the summer, classmates and friends Declan and Tiernan Devlin, Tommy Nitti, and Charlie Valero, initially jumped into action to retrieve a wayward remote-control boat in the middle of Lake Ellyn. On their way to the middle of the lake, with their paddle board and life jackets, they soon realized they needed to also pull a drowning man to safety instead.

2024 Heritage Award
In addition to recognizing the exemplary 2024 Class of Heroes, the Red Cross of Greater Chicago will present the prestigious Heritage Award. The Heritage Award is given annually to a civic leader who exemplifies the spirit of heroism and humanitarianism at a distinguished level and demonstrates a long-term commitment to improving the lives of others. The awardee’s actions, deeds, and philanthropic works illustrate the spirit of humanitarianism and echo our mission: to help others prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

The Red Cross is proud to bestow Brett Hart, President of United Airlines with the 2024 Heritage Award. In his role, Hart is responsible for United’s global operations – flight, technical and network operations, inflight services, and safety, and he leads the company’s external-facing functions including government affairs, regulatory, corporate communications, advertising, market and community innovation, legal, global community engagement, environmental sustainability teams, and more. Hart is renowned for the incredible impact he has had on the more than 90,000 employees of United, its customers and our community, through the many programs and initiatives he has guided and influenced.

Thank you to the generous sponsors of the 2024 Illinois Red Cross Heroes Breakfast event, including:

Champion Sponsors: CDW, ITW, Kirkland & Ellis; Inspiring Action Sponsors: Edwardson Family Foundation, Make It Better Foundation; Hero Sponsors: Aon, William Blair, CNA, Fresenius Kabi, KPMG LLP, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Nicor Gas, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., United Airlines, Wintrust; Interactive Technology Sponsors: Elevance Health, Patrick M. and Jennifer Gallagher, Stepan Company; Media Sponsors: CBS 2 Chicago, Make It Better Foundation

VISUALS: Red Cross Heroes headshots may be accessed here.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Linda Pulik pulls from personal experience as a Restoring Family Links volunteer

The American Red Cross is most often visible for responding to disasters or collecting a big part of the nation’s blood supply, but the American Red Cross is also part of the world’s largest humanitarian network. Together with our global Red Cross and Red Crescent teams, relief is provided to 1 in 65 people around the world every year.  

One way that relief is provided is through the Restoring Family Links program. For more than 150 years, the program has helped reconnect separated families and address the issue of missing persons as a result of armed conflict, natural disasters, migration, and other situations. Families suffer greatly when their loved ones remain unaccounted for, and they must learn to live with uncertainty. It is this uncertainty that Red Cross Restoring Family Links caseworkers work ardently to resolve.  

Linda Pulik is one of those caseworkers out of the Greater Chicago Chapter. Linda recently re-engaged as a volunteer with the Red Cross and knew Restoring Family Links was an area of interest to her, as she has immigrated twice in her life. She has empathy for how difficult it is to be separated from family, though she knows her experience isn’t as painful or frightening as it can be for the families that Restoring Family Links serves. 

“I know how important this is because in my own family the fear of not knowing where your family is when you’re separated geographically is immense,” Linda said. “It’s just been part of daily life for my family going back generations, and so I’m very grateful to be able to be a part of a program that facilitates connecting family members, whoever they may be.” 

In the past year, the American Red Cross helped reconnect nearly 4,000 families. That is an impressive number considering making those connections can often be as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack, according to Linda. 

“I cannot tell you the thrill that I felt on my first case when I used information from a Red Cross message and I got hold of the right person on the first try,” she said. “I was so honored to be part of a process that lets someone know that their family member in another country is looking for them.” 

One of the challenges of working to restore family connections is how sensitive the information can be due to the often-ongoing conflict or migration, so it’s important to be respectful of the people involved. Linda says she values the humanity on which the Restoring Family Links program is built, and she feels as though she has been given the resources for success in her role as a caseworker. 

“A big part of the reason why I love being a Restoring Family Links volunteer is because of the eminent community that I’ve become a part of and the type of support that I get from my colleagues and supervisors,” Linda said. 

Thank you, Linda for your dedication, compassion, and willingness to give your time and service and uphold the mission of the Red Cross to alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. 

To volunteer with the Red Cross, visit RedCross.org/volunteer. 

If you live in the United States and are seeking information about someone you’ve been unable to contact due to a recent disaster in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, please visit American Red Cross’s Contact and Locate Loved Ones page. This information is also available in Spanish to search for your loved one. 

If you are looking for a family member living abroad who is not a US citizen, please submit your inquiry here. 

Dedicated to Service at Home and Around the World

Red Cross workers oftentimes find themselves serving a need locally and then getting ready to travel overseas for a 5-month deployment to a military base. Such is the case for Undine Lasater who started volunteering with the Red Cross first, then joined as a Field Office Coordinator then as a Regional Program Specialist with the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces when her husband was stationed in Germany as a Department of Defense civilian after he retired from the U.S. Army as a Major. Undine and her family relocated to Chicago when her husband retired from the U.S. Army and her desire to continue serving with the Red Cross specifically through the Service to the Armed Forces was stronger than ever. Undine is a driving, positive, force with the Red Cross of Illinois and is passionate about continuing to serve military servicemembers and their families.

Undine and her fellow team members, came together in Indiana to prepare for their 5-month assignment.

“I’m really very grateful to be a part of an organization that was founded in giving back and supporting military members and their families. Having been a military spouse, I know first-hand the uncertainties that come with having a deployed spouse or having to move to another part of the world. Through my work, not only do I have the opportunity to inform our service men and women of services available to them through the Red Cross, but I also get to work with families who may need support as their loved one deploys somewhere around the world,” shares Undine.

Undine, bottom right-hand corner, pictured with members of the German Red Cross.

The American Red Cross serves our nation’s military personnel and their families, including active duty, National Guard and Reserve, as well as our veterans. Every day, the American Red Cross provides 24/7 global emergency communication services and other support in military and veteran healthcare facilities across the country and around the world.

In addition to her work with the Service to the Armed Forces, Undine works with The American Red Cross’s International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign which empowers youth and young adults, ages 13-24, to learn about international humanitarian law—the body of law that governs armed conflict which states that civilians should be protected and may not be targeted during armed conflict.

Undine with the 2021 International Humanitarian Law – Youth Action Campaign Regional and International Winners

“Studies show that today’s youth have been de-sensitized to violence due to various entertainment venues. In addition, much of the public is not aware of the basic principles of International Humanitarian Law. Many people associate the American Red Cross with disaster relief, emergency preparedness, and blood donations. It often comes as a surprise that the American Red Cross was founded as a response to the humanitarian challenges faced in war,” stated Undine.

The International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign program empowers youth to explore IHL topics through peer-to-peer education campaigns. As a team member for the IHL Youth Action Campaign, students go through training on IHL, learn how to build a campaign and conduct both in-person and social media activities to promote awareness about IHL in their communities. Each team focuses locally but contributes to a larger movement of IHL advocates that are educating thousands of people.

Undine encourages young adults to get involved and consider joining the 2024 International Humanitarian Law – Youth Action Campaign program. Click here for more details or students can inquire through their school Red Cross Club.

Good luck to Undine and Team 52! Thank you for supporting and carrying out the Red Cross mission!

Written by Illinois Communications Manager Connie Esparza

Red Cross Volunteers — Connecting Family Members Across the Globe

There are countless of ways to get involved with the Red Cross. You may see Red Cross volunteers responding to disasters in your neighborhood or across the country. Perhaps you are a blood donor and you’ve been greeted by a blood ambassador, maybe you had a free smoke detector installed in your home through our Sound the Alarm program, or maybe you took a First Aid Training Course. In addition to the more visible volunteer roles at the Red Cross, there is a core group of volunteers that dedicate their time and expertise in the Red Cross Restoring Family Links program and you don’t often hear about their work.

For more than 150 years, the Red Cross’s Restoring Family Links program has helped reconnect separated families and address the issue of missing persons as a result of armed conflict, natural disasters, migration, and other situations. Families suffer greatly when their loved ones remain unaccounted for, and families must learn to live with uncertainty. It is this uncertainty that Red Cross Restoring Family Links caseworkers work ardently to resolve.

The Red Cross of Illinois is proud to have a stellar group of volunteers whose behind-the-scenes work brings joy and closure to families around the world. Meet Restoring Family Links Caseworkers Margo Dudewicz, Susie Mazaheri, Monica Agler and Mallory Smith.

Monica Agler has been a volunteer with the Red Cross for over 12 years. Monica started with the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces and moved to Restoring Family Links when this program evolved.

“Every role I’ve had with the Red Cross has been gratifying. Through Restoring Family Links, I have had the opportunity to resolve cases by locating loved ones and providing closure to families who’ve lived in anguish over not knowing what happened to their family member. Most currently, I was assigned to a case of a family who fled Iraq and they lost touch with their son who went back to Iraq to retrieve his grandmother. I have 15 years of tracking to follow, but I’m determined to bring this family peace.”

Susie Mazaheri is the Restoring Family Links Regional Lead for the Red Cross of Illinois. Susie has been with the Red Cross since 2008 with the majority of her time as a Disaster Mental Health professional. You can find Susie volunteering locally or across the country aiding those affected by disasters, but her work in Restoring Family Links is always in the back of her mind and part of her days. See more from Susie here.

“Our work through the Restoring Family Links program is so important and can be done from any part of the country. My motivation is knowing that the people we help have been through so much trauma, yet they maintain that glimmer of hope of locating and reuniting with their loved one. Like the mother in Honduras who lost touch with her young son as he migrated and found himself in a detention center. Because of the incredible Red Cross network, we were able to give that mother the closure she had been waiting for, for so long. I put myself in her shoes and can only hope that someone would want to help me find the ending to my story if ever I found myself in a similar situation.”

Margot Dudewicz has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross serving the Quad Cities and West Central Illinois since 2017. Margot, whose husband is a member of the U.S. Army, first joined the Red Cross through its Service to the Armed Forces. Margot’s love for research, genealogy, and helping people connected her to Restoring Family Links.

“The Red Cross is so much more than what people think they are — globally, the Red Cross cares about families — especially families who become separated. Like the Ugandan sister living in DeKalb whose brother was missing for 20 years. After connecting her with her brother who she thought deceased – the emotions and joy I witnessed when they connected is something I will never forget and are my motivation to do everything I can when I get a case to make the connection or find that family more information. The stories and people I get to work with are so powerful and inspire me to give back.”

Mallory Smith has been a Red Cross volunteer since 2019. Mallory is an aerospace engineer and contractor with NASA. During her free time, Mallory works on reconnecting families and uses her engineering and love of data mining to help connect families. Hear more from Mallory here.

“Working in Restoring Family Links takes perseverance—not giving up on a lead because you know that your work, when successful, will have a massive impact on someone’s life.”

“We could absolutely not do this work without our volunteers. The passion and dedication they have for helping families is incredible. The creativity and resourcefulness shown by our entire Restoring Family Links team makes a huge impact in the lives of families all around the world,” shares Crystal Smith, Service to the Armed Forces/International Services Regional Program Director.

The American Red Cross Restoring Family Links program assists individuals and families who are separated internationally by war, disaster, migration, political events and other humanitarian circumstances in re-establishing contact.

When families are separated internationally by armed conflict, disaster, migration and other humanitarian emergencies the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network can help to do the following:

• Locate missing family members
• Restore and maintain family communications
• Provide war-time documentation of internment and/or documentation on the fate of missing family members

If you live in the United States and are seeking information about someone you’ve been unable to contact due to a recent disaster in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, please visit American Red Cross’s Contact and Locate Loved Ones page. This information is also available in Spanish to search for your loved one.

If you are looking for a family member living abroad who is not a US citizen, please submit your inquiry here.

To all of our dedicated Red Cross Volunteers, thank you. Your dedication, compassion, and willingness to give your time and service upholds the mission of the Red Cross to alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.

To volunteer with the Red Cross, visit RedCross.org/volunteer.

Written by Illinois Communications Manager Connie Esparza

The Red Cross at Fiesta del Sol

At Fiesta del Sol this weekend there were sights, delicious smells, music, and reconnecting with fellow global Red Cross colleagues. Outside of being a beacon of cultural amusement and celebration, Fiesta del Sol attendees were able to access valuable information by spinning the Red Cross trivia wheel on a variety of topics like fire safety, disaster preparedness, and first aid training. Additionally, attendees were able to sign up to be blood donors and volunteers, and learned about the American Red Cross Restoring Family Links program.

“This weekend was about community,” stated Brian McDaniel, Executive Director of the Illinois River Valley Chapter. “I met families and individuals who expressed genuine interest in volunteering, learning first aid, or having the Red Cross help them locate a missing loved one through our Restoring Family Links program. Connecting the community to valuable resources is what we set out to do this weekend and I can confidently say that Fiesta attendees who saw us in Pilsen received that and more! We can’t wait to be back again next year!”

Held over the course of four days in Pilsen, a Chicago neighborhood, Fiesta del Sol provided live entertainment, great food, a soccer tournament, activities for children, art exhibits, performing arts, carnival rides, and different Expositions. Through a wide range of sponsors and vendors, attendees were also able to obtain information and guidance on topics such as housing, immigration consulting, Covid-19 vaccinations for all ages, live painting art-performances, college workshops, and more.

“We were incredibly proud to be at Fiesta del Sol,” stated Celena Roldán, American Red Cross of Illinois CEO. “Participating in events like Fiesta del Sol not only brings us closer to the people we serve, but it gives us the opportunity to recruit great volunteers to our team as well as blood donors – as there is always a need for blood. Additionally, with our participation at Fiesta del Sol, we are able to provide community members with information on services and resources available at the Red Cross that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to receive.”

Celena Roldán, Chief Executive Officer for the Red Cross of Greater Chicago, third from the left, pictured with Red Cross staff and volunteers.

Red Cross staff and volunteers had a great time serving Fiesta del Sol attendees and continued its work of sharing the Red Cross mission ‘al cruzar la calle, a través del pais, y alrededor del mundo’.

Written by Illinois Communications Manager Connie Esparza

Restoring Family Links: Connecting Susan Stevens

Hugh and Susan Stevens are on a mission to preserve part of their family history. A few years ago, the couple visited the Jewish Museum in Berlin and after reading about the people and families impacted, she felt it was time to dig further into her own untold family story.

While cleaning out some items that belonged to her late aunt, Vera Rosenthal, Susan stumbled upon two well-preserved typed letters emblazoned with the American Red Cross logo.

Dated June 14^th and November 30^th of 1943, the letters showed the Chicago Chapter of the American Red Cross was trying to reach Susan’s father, Hans Friedman, to deliver personal messages. These letters would show the lengths family members went to in hopes of reaching loved ones across the sea they feared had forgotten them.

Hans left the city of Berlin as well as his mother, Lotte, and his sister and her husband, Vera and Kurt Rosenthal, in 1938 to begin a new life in America. Hans did not believe Vera nor Lotte had survived the war in Germany.

It wasn’t until a few years later when the Red Cross aided Lotte and Vera in trying to locate Hans that he even knew they were still alive. Susan says her father was so happy to learn his mother and sister had survived, and amazed that the Red Cross was able to track him down.

“It gave them great hope,” said Susan Stevens. “It was very exciting for my parents to receive these letters and then obviously significant since they kept them all these years.”

About 70 years after the letters were delivered to Susan’s father, her husband Hugh noticed another personal connection to the Red Cross. Listed under the Board of Directors was Elmer T. Stevens, a relative of Hugh.

There is much more to this family’s story of survival, but the Red Cross was there to help reconnect them when their fate was uncertain.

The American Red Cross has been working to reconnect families after the chaos and confusion of war and disasters for decades. Whether it has been weeks or years, the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago can help you find and reconnect with loved ones around the world after natural disasters, armed conflict, migration or other humanitarian emergencies. The American Red Cross works with the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations to reconnect nearly 5,000 families each year through tracing, certificates of detention, migration and other forms of documentation.

To learn more about the Red Cross mission to Restore Family Links, please visit our website at redcross.org/familylinks.

 

Red Cross Monitoring Airports and Ports of Entry

Executive Order on Immigration and Impact on Travelers

On Friday, January 27, 2017, President Trump issued an executive order on immigration indefinitely barring refugees from entering the United States, suspending all refugee admissions for 120 days, and blocking citizens of seven countries, refugees or otherwise, from entering the United States for 90 days: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. As a consequence of the order, some travelers to the United States were stopped at airports in the United States and abroad.

American Red Cross Response

The American Red Cross is monitoring conditions at airports and ports of entry in collaboration with local emergency management officials in order to assess the need for food and canteen services for stranded travelers and detainees affected by the executive order. Health, mental health, and spiritual care services are also at-the-ready.

“Our fundamental principles guide us to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found,” said Celena Roldan, CEO of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois. “We are working with local officials to continue to monitor the situation. First and foremost, we are a humanitarian services organization, dedicated to the inclusion of and aid to all people.”

The Red Cross is also prepared to utilize the Reconnecting Family Links (RFL) program for detainees, stranded travelers and families that have been separated internationally.

Fundamental Principles

The American Red Cross is governed by a set of fundamental principles. These principles are reviewed in preparation for a potential response in order to ensure that it is guided by important tenants.

Humanity

The Red Cross, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors—in its international and national capacity—to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality

It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality

In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Red Cross may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence

The Red Cross is independent. The national societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with Red Cross principles.

Voluntary Service

The Red Cross is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity

There can be only one Red Cross society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality

The Red Cross is a worldwide institution in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other.

By: Cat Rabenstine, Regional Marketing Programs Manager, American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois

Placing Humanity back on the Map

Over the course of just a few hours on a Friday afternoon, 20 volunteers in Chicago helped map the future of emergency response efforts across the world without having to step foot on an airplane.

In an age where we heavily rely on GPS, digital technology and Googling for instant results, it’s a shock to many that much of the world does not officially live on a map. This makes it especially difficult for first responders to navigate (literal) uncharted areas when they need to deliver help quickly.

In the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois’ fifth “Mapathon,” on December 11th, a handful of public volunteers alongside employees from Discover worked together to map out a town in Kenya, where traffic accidents are one of the most common and deadly disasters. Without reliable maps, it makes it very hard for organizations like the Kenya Red Cross  to accurately track where most accidents happen and how to create plans to prevent them in the future.

“It’s actually pretty relaxing! And it’s way more satisfying spending time doing this instead of playing Candy Crush,” Discover employee Keenan said while plotting a new road on the grid.

The concept is simple: the American Red Cross together with the British Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team formed Missing Maps—a project to put more than 20 million people onto a free and editable map of the world.

Anyone with internet access can help trace sections of a community using satellite imagery as a guide on a digital map. Zero technical training, course requirements or traveling is required. Mapping experts then double-check volunteer work to make sure it’s accurate, and the maps become usable.

It’s also a convenient solution to one of the most frequent questions people ask the Red Cross after an international disaster happens: “How can I help from where I am?”

American Red Cross volunteers continue to map communities in response to several disasters like the Nepal and Haiti earthquakes and the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic in West Africa.

A few volunteers even said they’d continue the Mapathon at home.

“I’ll definitely be telling my friends about this,” Keenan added. “I get now how important maps are in the world.”

Story and photos by Katie Wilkes, Regional Marketing Manager, American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois 

To participate in the Missing Maps project, or to organize a Mapathon of your own, contact Jim McGowan or Ryan Bank at jim.mcgowan@redcross.org. 

Bridging the Path to Preparedness in Ecuador

Preparedness.  I talk about it often as part of my job.  I share tips and helpful information about how to better prepare, and often wonder if people actually feel confident about what to do in case of an emergency.  But I am now content to know that in South America, specifically Ecuador, families and communities know exactly what to do in case of an emergency.

I was fortunate to travel with another staff member from the Red Cross International Communications team to Ecuador in late March where we visited coastal areas, since earthquakes and tsunamis are big threats there. The American Red Cross, in partnership with USAID, funds preparedness programs to teach communities everything from first aid, and lifeguarding skills to disaster preparedness.  We also visited a few rural communities where flooding is their big threat, and I was in awe at how prepared everyone was.  Ever since these programs were implemented, the culture among the community has become all about preparedness.

We spoke to community residents who were so proud of the skills they had learned from the Red Cross.  I was particularly impressed when we visited a school in Manglaralto named Escuela Alfredo Sanz Rivera.  The kids were on vacation, but came to the school to greet us and show us everything they had learned through the program.  I was in awe as these kids, who were not much older than 12 years old, knew so much about first aid, how to use an extinguisher and how to carry a patient on a stretcher.  They told us how they had already put their skills to good use by helping out their siblings when one of them was burned.  I have a 15-year-old son and am sure his first instinct would be to use Google.

Some of the areas we visited had to great creative with their evacuation plans. The town of Briceño de Afuera is a small community outside of Guayaquil. People were excited that we had come to visit. They were eager to share their evacuation plans with us. This town is prone to flooding, but not from rain, rather from the nearby bodies of water that rises.

There is only one convenience store for the whole community and you must cross a bamboo bridge to get to the store. There were several of these bamboo bridges which looked like they could fall apart at any given moment. I actually had to cross one of the bamboo bridges and was scared to death.  The water below me looked muddy and dirty. But it helped me to think about the people that I had just met, that lived there and how it was their way of life.

They showed us the community evacuation plan they had created with the help of the Red Cross.  A member of the community had drawn the map and plan by hand. They went through every detail and were proud of the plan they had created. They demonstrated to us how they use a homemade firecracker to announce to the town that there is an evacuation. Yes, a firecracker!  It looked like a bottle rocket that I use to light up when I was a kid. It apparently works well as an early warning system for community members. The whole town attested to the fact that they knew exactly what to do when they heard the loud pop.

We are so fortunate to live in a country where we have so many resources and help at our fingertips.  However, it is extremely humbling to know that we, at the Red Cross are helping in other parts of the world.  Communities are being resourceful however they can.  I’ve never been more confident about the importance of teaching preparedness.  Because even if we think we know it all, our mission is still helping others, somewhere in the world in getting better prepared.

Written by Veronica Vasquez, a member of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, who traveled to Ecuador in late March 2014.

Red Cross Nourished a Bright Future for Prisoner of War

Vince Kucharski’s youth in Poland was plagued by turmoil and war, but in the difficult moments of his life, acts of kindness provided by the global Red Cross would nourish a bright future for him.

“They were very good to us,” said Vince. “I still donate to the Red Cross and I like the Red Cross because they did help us. If they didn’t send us the packages we would be awfully hungry.”

Born in Warsaw, Poland in 1929, Vince lived through a tumultuous period, one that separated him from his family for 24 years. Germany had invaded Poland in 1939 when Vince was 10 years old. It was dangerous to walk the streets, especially if one did not carry the right documents.

The uprising in Warsaw lasted many days and the city was completely destroyed. He witnessed one of his friend’s from the platoon getting hit and he couldn’t do anything for him because he had to keep running. If it wasn’t for the International Red Cross, he would have gone hungry as well.

“One day I came home, and my mother was very upset,” said Vince. “My neighbors asked me where was my brother Ted, and his friend? I said I don’t know, I saw them last night and they went home. A half hour later across the street from my apartment building, there were two bodies that were just lying there. They were my brother and his friend. My brother was only 16 and his friend was 18.”

Amidst the hardships his family endured, the Kucharski family received relief. Vince’s first encounter with the Red Cross was in 1940 when he was a teenager. The Red Cross provided his family with food and medicine.

Sometime after his brother died, a man approached Vince with an invitation to join the Polish Resistance movement and form part of the Polish underground forces. This was the only way one could become part of the army, because it was so secret.

No one could know, not even his family. It was during his time with the Underground Army that Vince would once again come in contact with the Red Cross, helping him bear the brutalities of war.

On the day Vince set out to unite with fellow members of the Underground Army, his mother stopped him to ask where he was going.

“She told me, ‘I have a feeling I won’t see you for a long time.’ I said, ‘Oh ma.’ At that time, I didn’t even know where I was going,” he said.

His mother was right. Vince thought he would be gone for two days. It would be a total of 24 years before he saw his mother again.

In early October of 1944, Vince went to a Prison Camp in Germany called Stalag 11A. During his three months there as a laborer, the Red Cross would send packages once a month. After the three months, he signed up to be a laborer at a prison camp in another part of Germany and still received Red Cross packages.

The Stalag 11A Prison Camp fell into the Russian hands sometime after Vince left to the new camp and all of the prisoners were sent to Siberia. The new camp that Vince had moved to was later freed. He was sent to Hamburg, Germany which was under English control to work as a guard.

The packages helped Vince and others to keep going and alleviated their suffering. Furthermore, the food that he received from the Red Cross nourished a bright future that lay ahead of him.

Vince was given a ticket to Chicago in 1950 where he raised a family and bought a house where his family portraits hang on the walls. He has four daughters and many grandchildren. In looking back at his past, it is astonishing to see how that led to a fruitful present, one that is filled with much joy.

Written by Diana Brokop