Para Gabriela, su hija de 5 años y su hermano, era un día rutinario, hasta que dejó de serlo. “Estaba en el trabajo cuando mi hermano me llamó para que me apresurara a volver a casa porque nuestro edificio de apartamentos estaba en llamas y estábamos perdiendo todas nuestras cosas. Las horas y los días siguientes, mi cabeza estaba nublada y no podía entender qué tenía que hacer a continuación y cómo empezar de nuevo”.
Perder su casa en un incendio no es sólo la pérdida del lugar donde vive, su lugar de comodidad y seguridad, sino también la pérdida de tantas cosas de valor como fotografías, documentos, objetos preciados y la pérdida de la rutina conocida.
Gabriela recuerda: “Nunca en un millón de años imaginé la posibilidad de sufrir un incendio en mi hogar. Cuando veia cómo el edificio ardía en llamas, pensé: ‘Bueno, ¿y ahora qué? Estamos en la calle, sin hogar, ¿qué vamos a hacer? a donde vamos a ir ¿ Y lo más importante, ¿cómo iba a explicarle esta tremenda pérdida a mi hija que afortunadamente estaba en la guardería en ese momento? No sabía qué hacer a continuación y mucho menos pensar en las palabras que necesitaba usar para asegurarle que íbamos a estar bien”.
Durante las siguientes semanas después del incendio, Gabriela y algunos de sus vecinos encontraron refugio en un refugio de la Cruz Roja y Gabriela recuerda: “En el refugio, mi hija se aclimató muy bien gracias a los voluntarios de la Cruz Roja. Cada voluntario que conocimos nos trató con mucha amabilidad y compasión. A mi hija, los voluntarios de la Cruz Roja le proporcionaron juguetes de peluche y materiales para colorear, se tomaron el tiempo para sentarse con ella a dibujar y colgar sus obras de arte en el refugio. Mi hija entendió que lo habíamos perdido todo, pero el cuidado y la amabilidad de los voluntarios de la Cruz Roja lograron que ella no sintiera la pérdida tan inmensamente. Por eso, estoy eternamente agradecido”.
“No puedo decirlo de otra manera: los voluntarios de la Cruz Roja fueron ángeles que en cuestión de horas reemplazaron los medicamentos de mi hija y localizaron un lugar seguro para que nos quedáramos, luego durante días nos cuidaron las 24 horas del día y se aseguraron de que estábamos bien”.
Los voluntarios son el alma de la Cruz Roja y representan el 90% de la fuerza laboral. Después de un incendio doméstico, los voluntarios de la Cruz Roja trabajan con los departamentos de bomberos locales para conectarse con las familias impactadas para brindarles servicios como alojamiento de emergencia, asistencia financiera y apoyo emocional.
“Mientras estaba afuera del edificio en llamas, sin saber a quién llamar para pedir ayuda, apareció la Cruz Roja. Gracias a la Cruz Roja, tuvimos refugio seguro, comidas, asistencia financiera, atención espiritual, asistencia para la recuperación, servicios de salud y mucho más. Con su apoyo, pude aclarar mi mente y ponerme a trabajar en la recuperación para poder hacer que mi familia volviera a la rutina que conocíamos”.
La Cruz Roja responde a 60.000 desastres al año, y la gran mayoría de ellos son incendios domésticos. A través de desastres grandes y pequeños, los voluntarios están listos para responder al llamado de ayuda para proporcionar alimentos, refugio, suministros de socorro, consuelo, planificación de recuperación y otra asistencia para ayudar a las personas en su momento de mayor necesidad.
“Las palabras más dulces de mi hija cuando nos mudamos a nuestro nuevo apartamento: ‘¡Tenemos un hogar otra vez!’ Un nuevo hogar, un nuevo comienzo, todo gracias a La Cruz Roja. Ahora hago una donación a la Cruz Roja porque sé lo que significa que alguien aparezca después de una pérdida devastadora y le den la mano a uno. Mi deseo es que otros también contribuyan porque cada poquito hace una diferencia muy significativa durante uno de los momentos mas obscuros de la vida”.
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 22nd 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 theDisaster 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 theFirefighter 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 Economouof Downers Grove is theGlobal 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 Thompsonof Chicago is theCommunity 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 Griffinof Chicago is theLaw 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 Elrodof Sandwich are theLifesaving 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 theMilitary 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 Valeroof Glen Ellyn are theYouth 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.
TheRed 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.
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.
“To support all the American Red Cross and its amazing volunteers in action is truly an honor,” said Susan Noyes, Red Cross Illinois Region board member and Tiffany Circle member, after volunteering at the Family Service Center following the tragic 2022 Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park, IL.
“The Red Cross’ ability to respond to a community in crisis and bring together the right partnerships was amazing and only made me more motivated to do the work that I get to do.”
Susan has been a long-time Red Cross volunteer, beginning as a candy striper at her community hospital when she was 14 years old. Later, she learned water safety and CPR, and eventually became an avid blood donor. “I never really thought about how the Red Cross was the connection point for all those opportunities,” she reflected.
Today, Susan is the founder of the Make It Better Foundation, and her engagement and leadership with the Red Cross has deepened significantly. The Foundation’s mission is to identify and amplify the work of outstanding nonprofits while growing a network of well-informed, committed philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and sponsors.
Susan credits much of her engagement with the Red Cross to the former CEO of the Red Cross of Greater Chicago and her close friend, Fran Edwardson. It was Fran who helped Susan discover the details of her extraordinary connection to the Red Cross and its history. Susan mentioned to Fran that her husband’s family had – at that point – an unknown tie to the organization in its early days. This led Fran to uncover that the ancestors of Susan’s husband, Nick Noyes, were in the inner circle of the founder herself – Clara Barton. In addition, in 1949, the Noyes family donated a home to be used as the Red Cross Chapter House in Danville, New York – the same town in which Clara Barton founded the first Red Cross chapter in the late 1800s. Today, that Chapter House is used as a Red Cross museum and office, and displays a collection of antiques donated by the Noyes family as well as other memorabilia pertaining to the history of the Red Cross.
“As I got involved with the Red Cross, I started realizing how many different ways the Red Cross has touched my life,” Susan said. “It’s an organization where the more you learn and the more you do, the more amazed you are by the depth and the breadth and the opportunity.”
Prior to her first board term, Susan witnessed the organization in action on a cold and frigid November evening. She had committed to learn more of what the Red Cross does on a first-hand basis and signed up to serve on the Disaster Action Team, a dedicated group of volunteers who respond to local disasters. On that night, she was called to respond to a serious home fire in Chicago. “Seeing the Red Cross interact with this family that was just devastated, alongside the first responders, I thought, ‘Wow, this is a well-oiled machine.’”
Today, Susan has shared her passion for the American Red Cross with her immediate family, as six members – spanning three generations – have joined the Tiffany Circle. The Tiffany Circle is a community of women leaders who advance the American Red Cross mission through a focused investment of time, talent and treasure by engaging and embracing women locally, nationally and internationally.
“I feel like my donated hours and dollars have the greatest impact by working with the Red Cross and because it does touch so many different areas of need. It feels like a real honor to be able to be part of that.”
On the cusp of finishing high school and moving on to Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Madeleine Yoon is hoping the legacy she started at her high school lives on for years to come.
“My sister and I started a Red Cross Club at our high school to make friends and to create a space where like-minded students could come together to do volunteer work for the good of the community and beyond. My hope is that participants see how their work impacts the Red Cross mission and endeavor to keep the club going long after I’ve graduated,” shared Madeleine.
In addition to leading the Red Cross Club at Barrington High School, Madeleine is a Field Ambassador for the Red Cross. Field Ambassadors like Madeleine serve as liaisons between their local region and the National Youth Council, promoting monthly national initiatives and working closely with local chapters and clubs to develop youth programs customized to meet the needs of the region.
“Serving as a Field Ambassador has been a memorable experience. Having the opportunity to meet and work with other motivated and determined Red Cross volunteers in my age group with similar values and connections to the mission has been really inspiring. As I move on to my college years, my commitment to the Red Cross and public service are top goals for me.”
The Red Cross Club of Barrington High School
Over the years, Madeleine, along with her fellow Red Cross Club members, has worked to raise funds to help the Red Cross prepare and respond to disasters across the region and support impacted communities to recover from emergencies. What started as a desire to meet fellow classmates grew in vision and desire to impact the mission of the Red Cross.
“We are so grateful to Madeleine, and all of our Red Cross Club members in the Illinois Region! They raise awareness of the Red Cross mission every day in their schools and communities, and they embody the true spirit of volunteerism,” shared Virginia Hopley, Volunteer Services Representative with the Illinois Red Cross.
Madeleine, thank you for your commitment to the humanitarian mission and inspiring your fellow classmates to support the Red Cross. We hope to see your name on the Red Cross volunteer roster for many more years!
Are you a high school or college student interested in starting a Red Cross Club at your school? Along with training and leadership development opportunities, you can choose mission-related activities in your community, while delivering lifesaving services of the Red Cross. Click here to learn more https://www.redcross.org/red-cross-youth/red-cross-clubs/starting-a-red-cross-club.html
Written by Illinois Communications Manager Connie Esparza
In the early hours of January 19th, Ashley Metcalfe and her family experienced a nightmare that no one should endure – a home fire that left them without their possessions and a place to call home.
As Ashley recalled the events of that morning, the smell of smoke jolted her awake around 4 a.m. and panic set in as she rushed through the apartment, searching for the source. The next thing she knew, the Chicago Fire Department was banging on her door telling her to evacuate.
“It’s 10 degrees out, it’s the crack of dawn, and there are 8 to 10 fire trucks blocking the entire road,” Ashley said. “There were about 40 firemen outside, and 10 police officers, I couldn’t believe it.”
Luckily, Ashley’s three children were staying the night with her sister, but she and her partner Arnold stood outside with the other neighbors watching the firefighters battle the flames that had started in the apartment next to hers. Eventually after several hours of working to put out the blaze, Ashley and Arnold were allowed back into their unit, only to find it submerged in several feet of water.
“Once we get back inside our unit, being the basement unit, it is flooded in about five or six feet of water,” Ashley said. “Everything we have, appliances, TVs, mattresses, our bed frames, clothes, every single thing we owned, we lost it all. Everything was gone.”
The aftermath left Ashley’s family grappling with the emotional and financial toll of their losses. They reached out to multiple emergency services seeking assistance.
“We were going through a really tough time and everything we worked for washed away, literally,” Ashley said. “It didn’t seem like we were getting the assistance we needed at that point. We were stressed mentally, stressed financially, stressed spiritually, you know especially on the kids, they literally cried because they missed their toys.”
As that first evening approached, they were starting to lose hope until they connected with the Red Cross of Illinois. Volunteers helped secure the family a hotel room for the night, but that was only the first step of the organization’s assistance. Ashley said the Red Cross helped with essential needs such as gas for their car, a security deposit for their temporary apartment, and even uniforms for her children so they could dress for school properly.
“You don’t know how impactful even that was because when it felt like the world was caving in, it was only the Red Cross that helped us,” Ashley said. “We are more than grateful; we owe the Red Cross more than our lives.”
The family is hoping to get back into their original apartment once updates from the water damage are complete. As they work towards recovery, Ashley is just grateful to have her family by her side and that the Red Cross was there to help when she didn’t know where else to turn in the immediate aftermath.
“The Red Cross services are amazing, I don’t know where we would actually be without them,” Ashley said.
Volunteers play a crucial role in addressing an average of 65,000 disasters annually, with the majority being home and apartment fires. If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of those impacted by fires and other disasters, visit redcross.org/volunteer.
On a Thursday afternoon in early spring, while on her way to drop off her friend after they had had lunch, Ann received a phone call that left her in complete shock. Her neighbor called with the news that the Bourbonnais Fire Department was working to put out a fire at her home.
“Before leaving to meet my friend, I had been outside and around my home and all was in order. I was in shock—disbelief that my neighbor was telling me that my home of 23 years – 23 years of love and work into it was going up in flames,” shared Ann.
Arriving at her home, Ann was met with a huge blaze and black billowing smoke emanating from her house, 25 mph winds that were making it impossible to extinguish the fire, and 27 neighboring fire departments that were working arduously against nature.
“I was sitting in the fire truck with the Fire Chief when my phone rang, and it was a volunteer with the Red Cross. I knew of the Red Cross because I am a blood donor. I didn’t realize how the Red Cross helps people in situations like the one I found myself in. The moral support, making sure I was okay – I will never forget that call and what it meant to me. That type of support is what helps one through a devastating loss – in my case, my home.”
Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers help local families cope with emergencies. In Illinois, over 4,400 volunteers stand ready to respond when the need arises to provide immediate assistance, disaster mental health, spiritual care, and health services. Diane Carter is a dedicated Red Cross volunteer who after a 31-year career in the military, resolved to be there to lend a hand when it’s most needed and who showed up to help Ann with next steps after her devastating loss.
“I volunteer with the Red Cross because I will never forget, as a military servicemember, how they were there to support me when I was deployed, and I had an emergency back home. I show up as a Red Cross volunteer because I know firsthand what it means to have someone there to tell you, ‘We’re here for you and together, we’re going to work on a recovery plan.’ You never forget that moment just like Ann doesn’t forget that call she received from us [Red Cross],” shared Diane.
Ann learned that the fire that destroyed her home started at a pile of mulch and the high winds carried the fire to the shed, garage, and ultimately her home. “I was thankful for the clothes on my back, the shoes on my feet, my purse and car, and the incredible outpouring of support I received starting with the Red Cross. I am working on being patient as I rebuild my home and encourage us all to be giving and help others – it will all come back to you when you most need it.”
Volunteers make it possible to respond to an average of 65,000 disasters every year, most of them home and apartment fires. Find out about the needs in your area by searching for current volunteer opportunities. To find urgently needed volunteer opportunities near you, visit RedCross.org/Volunteer.
Written by Illinois Communications Manager Connie Esparza
Meet volunteers Ron and Kathy Leffler, a Red Cross power couple who tied the knot in December 2023. This dedicated duo is often found volunteering together, and you might think their paths crossed during their time with the organization, but their story goes back way before they were ever Red Crossers.
“We met when I was a freshman in high school and he was a senior in high school,” Kathy said. “Funny enough, it was through my father because him and Ron were on the volunteer fire department together.”
Ron was taking an EMT course as he was preparing to become a full-time firefighter after graduating high school. Kathy’s father was also in the course, and would host a study group at their home, which is where Kathy and Ron first laid eyes on each other.
“I gotta tell you, it was love at first sight for both of us,” Ron said.
The pair was planning to get married after Kathy graduated from high school but ultimately split up and went their separate ways for many years. That’s until a high school reunion brought them back together 13 years ago, where they rekindled their high school sweetheart romance.
As a retired firefighter and police officer, Ron was drawn to still serving the public in some capacity, so after devastating flooding hit northern Illinois in 2017, Ron began volunteering for the Red Cross, and Kathy followed shortly thereafter.
“I had to join too, just so I could see him,” Kathy joked.
The two volunteer for the Red Cross in different capacities. Ron specializes in logistics while also volunteering as a transportation and specialty vehicle lead for the North Central Division, meanwhile Kathy is a professional chef, so her expertise is in feeding, while also serving as the historian for the Illinois River Valley Chapter.
“It’s nice because I’ve got my own groove and he’s got his own groove, but we still get to work together,” Kathy said.
Their December wedding was filled with fellow Red Cross volunteers and staff members they’ve grown close with over the years. Ron joked, “the volunteers outweighed the family.”
Ron and Kathy are grateful for their lifetime of memories together, including all of those involving the Red Cross.
“Back in the day when I first started doing DAT [Disaster Action Team] responses, her and I would be the crew that would go out on calls all night long,” Ron said. “Being a volunteer leader with the Red Cross has been such a great experience especially considering it something my wife and I can do together. It really is a match made in heaven.”
Ron and Kathy, your commitment, empathy, and eagerness to contribute your time and service in support of the Red Cross mission is truly appreciated. To join us as a volunteer, please visit RedCross.org/volunteer.
American Red Cross Volunteers at the Great River Honor Flight breakfast on Oct. 19 received a special honor of their own as they were presented with customized Military Challenge Coins to commemorate their years of service to local Veterans.
The coins was presented by the Great River Honor Flight Committee during the final flight of 2023 to recognize the Red Cross Volunteers that have been serving at the event’s breakfast since its inception in 2009.
Each month, during the Honor Flight Season, volunteers have gathered to serve meals to the men and women that have dedicated their lives to serving our country.
Red Cross Volunteers Tom Hellhake, Pam Shaffer, Dorothy Yackley and Bruce Venvertloh were on hand to accept the Challenge Coins that have become a longstanding tradition in Military circles.
While today many service members and Veterans have received and proudly display Challenge Coins, the practice didn’t begin as an officially sanctioned tradition, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
So how did the Military Challenge Coin get its start? That story is still debated by military historians and archivists to this day.
The most believed origin tracks the tradition back to World War I when a wealthy lieutenant was one of many individuals who volunteered to serve. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, this belief states that the lieutenant wanted to give each member of his unit a memento and ordered several small bronze medallions.
The lieutenant’s plane was later shot down over Germany and he was captured by a German patrol. He later escaped to a French outpost with only his coin-shaped medallion that he wore in a leather pouch around his neck.
The lieutenant was able to use the medallion to identify himself as a serviceman and his life was spared. The story states that after he was returned to his unit, it became a tradition for all service members to carry a coin with them at all times.
Other historians believe that the origin of the Challenge Coin dates back to the Vietnam War where an Army infantry-run bar would try to keep non-infantry men away by forcing them to buy drinks for the whole bar. This story states that service members began showing bullets and grenades until the tradition of showing a coin to identify them as servicemen was formed.
Regardless of when and how the Challenge Coin began, it has now served as a proud tradition for service members and Veterans for decades.
“If I can put a smile on your face (after a disaster) I’ve done my job.” -Rob West
That is how Rob West approaches his role as a disaster volunteer with the American Red Cross.
Photo Credit: Matt Bruce, The Daytona Beach News-Journal (Rob is shown here, signing in residents at a shelter after Hurricane Matthew in Florida in October 2016.)
Rob started volunteering in 1990, after flooding impacted the Quad Cities area. He jumped in to do disaster assessment work that year, and has never looked back.
“I love helping people,” he says.
In his 30+ year career as a disaster volunteer, Rob has responded to numerous disasters. He has deployed 90 times, both locally and nationally, to disasters such as flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and more.
Rob says, he does whatever he can to help those affected by disasters, as part of his role. “If someone needs something done, I’ll make it happen.”
Spending time in the various disaster-affected areas while on deployments has been impactful to Rob, and he says, he often times will return to visit those areas on subsequent personal trips, to reconnect with those he meets and to support their rebuilding efforts.
“I get cards and letters from people I’ve helped, and people say how they are thankful for the Red Cross being there after disasters,” Rob says.
We are thankful for Rob’s efforts, here in the Illinois region and beyond. Would you like to join Rob on the team? Just visit redcross.org/volunteer to find the volunteer opportunity that fits your schedule.
Written by Illinois Region Communications Manager Brian Williamsen
Abhinav Anne’s interest in helping people after disasters is what lead him to becoming a dispatch volunteer with the Red Cross of Illinois. While that’s not an uncommon reason for someone to join the organization, what is unique about Abhinav is that he started volunteering at just 14 years old.
“We’ve seen so many different disasters happening, and anytime on the news I always saw that the Red Cross was there to help and lend a hand,” Abhinav said. “I always dreamed of joining the Red Cross, furthering their mission and affecting the lives of many people. It’s been extremely rewarding.”
As a dispatcher he works directly with clients, most often after a house fire. Dispatchers work to confirm the fire, send responders, continue to monitor the situation and make sure the client receives the care they need.
He’s now been with the organization for more than a year and also got involved with the Red Cross Club at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville last year, when he was just a freshman.
“We started doing fundraisers and blood drives and later on we started opening different programs and offering high schoolers the training to also become Red Cross volunteers,” Abhinav said.
What Abhinav finds rewarding about being a dispatcher is getting face-to-face interaction with clients. Knowing he’s usually their first contact, Abhinav enjoys being there to comfort them. Though he said he also gains a lot from this experience.
“As a volunteer over the past year, not only have I learned a lot about actual dispatcher experience, but I’ve developed my own skills such as communication and client support, so volunteering at the Red Cross impacts not only the other people, but also impacts you.”
Thank you, Abhinav! Volunteers are always needed, and you can join Abhinav on the team. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up today!
American Red Cross of Illinois 