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[WASHINGTON, APRIL 16, 2024] — The American Red Cross has selected Teresa and Byron Pollitt of San Diego, California, as the winner of this year’s Harriman Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service.

The Harriman Award is the highest recognition for American Red Cross volunteer service and recognizes extraordinary contributions beyond local communities and length of service. It is named for the late E. Roland and Gladys Harriman, two lifelong volunteers who served as Chairman of the Red Cross and Chairman of Volunteers of the Red Cross in Greater New York, respectively.

Teresa and Byron Pollitt have made an impact on the American Red Cross at the local, national, and international levels through their volunteerism, blood donations and personal philanthropy over more than 30 years.

Byron has been a blood donor for more than 30 years and a Red Cross volunteer for 21 years, starting as a chapter board member in Orange County and then San Francisco. On these local boards, he held numerous leadership roles including Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the Board. Byron had a distinguished career as the CFO of organizations such as Disney Parks and Resorts, Gap and Visa where he acted as the senior executive in service to the Red Cross, successfully advocating for meaningful corporate partnerships and financial support of the mission totaling in the millions of dollars.

In 2015, Byron was elected to the Finance Commission of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies where he served as Vice Chair for four years. Since 2020, Byron has been a Senior Executive Advisor to the International Services Division of the American Red Cross. 

Teresa Pollitt has been a member of the Tiffany Circle for 17 years and was the inaugural Chair of the Tiffany Circle Chapter in San Diego. She is serving her second, three-year term on the Tiffany Circle National Council where she is a Pacific Division Volunteer Leader and was a member of the Diversity Task Force. Most recently, Teresa co-chaired the 2023 Tiffany Circle Summit which included nearly 200 Tiffany Circle members and guests gathered in support of and engagement with the Red Cross mission, culminating in more than $1.3 million raised for investments in support of the Sickle Cell initiative, which was nearly double the fundraising goal. 

Prior to her current involvement with the Red Cross, Teresa was a financial executive with an investment counsel firm. Locally, Teresa is currently the Vice Chair of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter Board and will assume the Chair position later this year. She has been active in the chapter as chair of the Real Heroes award event, chair of the Philanthropy Committee, and as a member of both the Executive and Board Development Committee and Service to the Armed Forces Focus Group. Teresa is also a regular blood donor.

In addition to their extraordinary volunteerism, the Pollitts have personally contributed well over $2 million in support of Biomedical Services, Disaster Cycle Services, Service to the Armed Forces and International Services. Teresa and Byron truly embody what it means to be a Red Cross supporter. The impact of their time, talent and treasure on the American Red Cross will be felt for decades to come.

"I’m honored to present Teresa and Byron Pollitt with the Harriman Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service,” said Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern. “The Pollitts embody the spirit of this award - individually and as a couple they have made a lasting impact through their volunteer service, blood donations, and philanthropy locally, nationally, and internationally. We are profoundly thankful for their dedication to our mission and the people we serve.”

The Harriman Award was presented at the Red Cross Leadership Awards Luncheon in Washington, DC on April 11, 2024.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

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