The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois is accepting nominations to honor the heroes who walk among us at its annual Heroes Breakfast on April 23, 2020. Every year the event honors local community members who have demonstrated heroism through extraordinary acts of courage or kindness. To nominate a hero, complete the online nomination form by November 30, 2019.
“There are so many individuals doing great things every day to help those in need. Heroes walking among us who had run towards danger in order to save a life, those who risk their lives every day for the well-being of others. We want to recognize some of these unsung heroes,” said Celena Roldán, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois. “Let us know if you know of someone who has gone above and beyond to make a difference in the community, has saved a life or has helped someone in time of need. Help us tell their story.”
The heroic act must have taken place during the 2019 calendar year or be ongoing. Candidates must also live or work in the Illinois counties of Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago.
Honorees will be recognized at the 18th annual American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Avenue, in downtown Chicago.
Nominations are being accepted in the following 11 categories:
Blood Services: The nominee can be an individual(s) or organization that is involved in an activity that creates awareness of the importance of blood donation in the community, helps to ensure a sufficient and safe blood supply is available to those in need, and/or acts as an advocate for the blood community.
Community Impact: The nominee can be an individual(s) who has displayed leadership and commitment to the community by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact through their efforts. The nominee has identified a community need and created a program or service or has taken action to address that need.
Disaster Services: The nominee can be an individual(s) who has exhibited heroic efforts in any or all of the areas of disaster services, including preparedness, response or recovery during a
natural disaster or emergency situation, or has made an ongoing commitment to a community that experienced a disaster in response to an identified need.
Emergency Medical Assistance: The nominee is an individual(s) who has exhibited heroic efforts as a paramedic, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) representative, or a non-medical professional with any type of certified emergency training (i.e. lifeguard training, CPR training, or first aid).
Firefighter: The nominee is a professional, reserve or volunteer firefighter, or medical personnel related to the dispatch operations of a fire department. The nominee could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the incident. The situation does not have to be associated with the use of skills directly related to their profession. The nominee either exhibited heroism in their response to an emergency situation or the nominee is involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.
Global Citizenship: The nominee can be an individual(s) who volunteered or worked to meet the needs of the world’s potentially vulnerable populations by building safer, more resilient communities and providing needed relief.
Good Samaritan: The eligible nominee(s) is an individual(s) who performed an act of heroism involving an unusual, significant or unexpected incident or emergency situation requiring a courageous or unselfish reaction in a crisis or time of need.
Law Enforcement: The nominee(s) is a professional police officer(s) or related law enforcement official(s) who exhibited heroism either in response to an emergency situation or through an ongoing commitment to the community. The nominee could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the incident. The situation does not have to be associated with the use of skills directly related to their profession.
Military: The nominee(s) is a U.S. service member (active duty and/or reserve components), veteran, military supporter or organization that serves the military community. The eligible
nominee(s) could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the heroic event. The situation does not have to be associated with the use of skills directly related to their profession. The nominee either exhibited heroism in their response to an emergency situation or the nominee is involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.
Nurse: The nominee(s) is a licensed and practicing nurse, nursing student or retired nurse who exhibited heroism either in their response to an emergency situation or through an ongoing commitment to the community through acts of kindness, courage or unselfishness to an identified need.
Youth: The nominee(s) must be 17 years old or under at the time of the heroic event. The eligible nominee(s) has performed an act of heroism involving an unusual, significant or unexpected incident requiring a courageous or unselfish reaction in a crisis or time of need. The nominee(s) can be involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.
Videos featuring last year’s local Red Cross heroes can be viewed on our You Tube Channel.
The 2020 Heroes Breakfast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our Signature Sponsor: Kirkland & Ellis and Presenting Sponsor: Walgreens.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. 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 us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.