Volunteers are the lifeblood of the American Red Cross. They make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce, and through them, the organization can deliver on its mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. 

Each year, members of the Red Cross nominate volunteers who exemplify the characteristics for which the founder of the Red Cross, Clara Barton, was known — a selfless and determined spirit, a mind for project management and organization and a heart for service. 

The American Red Cross North Texas Region is proud to award several outstanding volunteers with the Clara Barton Award and one with the Rosemary Mote and Beth Bormann Lifetime Achievement Award this year. 

Clara Barton Award

The Clara Barton Award recognizes exemplary service to humanity and reflects the devoted service of Red Cross volunteers who strive to create better communities through empowerment and social support. For 2023, the American Red Cross North Texas Region is proud to honor Diana Buckley, Cindy Hagat, Linn Behling Hughes and Helen Peoples.

Diana Buckley

Disaster Program Manager Megan Lykins nominated East Texas Chapter volunteer Diana Buckley for the award. After five years with the Red Cross, Buckley has been the North Texas Regional Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) lead, Tyler Disaster Action Team (DAT) coordinator and a shelter supervisor.

"Ms. Diana Buckley is one of the Tyler territory's most influential and impactful volunteers," Lykins said. "Ms. Diana wears many hats within Disaster Cycle Services and gives her all towards every assignment. I knew that Ms. Diana deserved the Clara Barton Award because she always puts her best foot forward to lead others to complete our mission. We love Ms. Diana and are so proud of the work she has put into the organization over the last six years." 

Buckley has deployed to at least 20 disaster relief operations since she joined the Red Cross. They’ve taken her from Texas to California, Mississippi to Arizona and most recently to Guam.

"You can make a difference by your dedication and service to bring compassion, hope and comfort to those devastated by a disaster," Buckley said. 

Cindy Hagat

Nominated by Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Janelle Paigo in Corsicana, Cindy Hagat serves as a recovery leader for the East Texas and Northeast Texas Chapters, Red Cross Care regional application lead, disaster action supervisor, RRMT member and shelter supervisor. 

In the past year alone, Hagat deployed to disaster relief operations in Mayfield, Kentucky after it was devastated by tornadoes, to Florida after Hurricane Ian and to Uvalde, Texas, after the mass shooting, which galvanized the nation. Hagat further serves the Red Cross as an ERV driver, in damage assessment, in recovery and client care and as a counselor.

"The American Red Cross has been a part of my life from an early age," Hagat said. "My Dad spent a long career in the U.S. Navy, and the Red Cros was able to bring him home from a Med Cruise for a family emergency, not once, but twice. The first time, I was five, and the second time when I was 10.

"While I appreciate the recognition, that is not why I am involved with the Red Cross. My commitment and focus are centered on serving people in need, both locally and nationally, with no expectation of acknowledgment or reward."

Linn Behling Hughes

"What an honor," Hughes said. "I'm not sure what I did to receive this award."

Hughes began her Red Cross service in June 2017. She is a volunteer recruitment lead and has been a secondary educator for 39 years, certified to teach Spanish, English and English as a Second Language. Her passion for the Red Cross has helped her earn over 40 volunteer specializations. She is regularly active in a dozen of them and contributes her vast skills and knowledge to guide and stimulate volunteer involvement in other areas of the Red Cross.

"An hour a month or 150; you are making a difference," Hughes said.

"Linn Behling Hughes is a shining example of what it means to be a Red Cross volunteer and she truly has the heart of a volunteer," said Red Cross Senior Volunteer Services Recruitment Specialist Mike Posey. "Linn has supervisory, lead volunteer and coordinator experience in virtually every Red Cross line of service, and her willingness to provide guidance for other volunteers and assume a leadership role is unsurpassed and impressive." 

Helen Peoples

"Helen serves as a community volunteer leader and collaborates with the community to build relationships between the Red Cross and community organizations," said Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Les Moody, who nominated Peoples. "Helen has been active on over 18 disaster relief operations during her tenure. She demonstrates personal expertise in her field and shares that expertise with other volunteers to enhance performance."

Peoples began her volunteering with the Red Cross in 2011. She holds positions in disaster, information and planning, logistics, mass care and finance. She is also a leader in many positions, having supervisor or manager status in multiple roles. 

"She takes a collaborative approach with volunteers and employees in developing and implementing resourceful and effective solutions during blue and grey sky operations," Moody continues. "Helen Peoples exemplifies the very definition of volunteer service. She is a true leader who exudes compassion for the clients, offers guidance to co-workers and works tirelessly toward the Red Cross mission."

Rosemary Mote and Beth Bormann Lifetime Achievement Award

The Rosemary Mote and Beth Bormann Lifetime Achievement Award honors the lives of North Texas Red Crossers Rosemary Mote and Beth Bormann. Mote was a Red Cross employee for over 30 years, and Bormann was a volunteer from 2008 to 2018. Both were instrumental in advancing Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services in North Texas.

The North Texas Region presents the award to volunteers who have served at least 15 years, demonstrate a deep commitment to the Red Cross mission and add a lasting and significant value to the organization by enriching Red Cross services to the community. 

Maureen Gargiulo

"I am very proud and honored to receive this award, and both Rosemary Mote and Beth Bormann were mentors and good friends of mine for many years," Maureen said.

Gargiulo began serving with the Red Cross in 2005 when she volunteered in the Dallas shelter in the city's convention center after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. Since then, she has worked as a DAT responder in what is now the Sherman territory, deployed in ERVs providing feeding and bulk distribution to communities impacted by catastrophic disasters. 

She currently serves as a regional volunteer for mass care operations, overseeing feeding, sheltering and distribution of emergency supplies. One of her most memorable volunteering experiences was the first time she had the opportunity to work as part of the mass care team in the Dallas command center for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. 

Janelle Paigo, who nominated Gargiulo for the Rosemary Mote and Beth Bormann Lifetime Achievement Award, uses Helen Keller's famous words to describe Gargiulo's service: "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."

"I hope this nomination inspires other volunteers to continue to grow in their leadership with the Red Cross," Paigo said. "This is a great reminder to look back at where things started with Red Cross and how far things have progressed—the number of DAT calls supported, DRO deployments, miles and numbers of damage assessments completed."

"Just try to do it, and don't worry if you make a mistake or if it's wrong," Gargiulo offers as advice. "You will learn from it.