RALEIGH, March 30, 2016 – By day, Marc Castleberry serves his country as a U.S. Army member stationed at Fort Bragg. And by night, he throws on a Red Cross volunteer vest and responds to nightly home fires in his community.
Because of his dedication to serving others, Castleberry received the Red Cross Presidential Award for Excellence on March 28, at the Red Cross Annual National Awards and Recognition Dinner in Washington, D.C.
The Presidential Award for Excellence, presented annually by Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern, is given each year to American Red Cross employees and volunteers who demonstrate superior job performance aligning with the organization’s priorities. This year, nine individuals and five teams received the prestigious award in the United States.
Since joining the Red Cross in October 2014, Castleberry has held multiple volunteer responsibilities, including delivering emergency communications to service members and their families; meeting one-on-one with more than 290 military members before they deployed overseas; and as a disaster action team captain, leading disaster response in Cumberland County. In 2016, Castleberry’s team responded to 123 disasters, assisted more than 450 clients and supported 1,555 shelter overnight stays.
“Marc truly embodies what it means to be selfless and compassionate,” said Barry Porter, regional CEO of the Red Cross in Eastern NC. “At the end of a day of work and training, Marc just doesn’t go home. He continues to serve. He serves his neighbors following disasters like home fires. ‘Thank you’ just isn’t enough for the time he dedicates to Red Cross and those in need.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Marc Castleberry with Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern at the Red Cross Annual National Awards and Recognition Dinner on March 28.
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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.