
Jen O’Keefe, who volunteers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with her seven-year-old Leonberger named Digory, is featured in the video and says that connecting with service members is at the heart of her work.
The American Red Cross was named the winner of the 2022 Sharecare Award in the category of Pet Health for the video Red Cross Dogs Help Service Members at Walter Reed. The video showcases how the Red Cross animal visitation program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, supports wounded service members, veterans, their families, caregivers and medical staff during times of need.
Jen O’Keefe, who volunteers at the hospital with her seven-year-old Leonberger named Digory, is featured in the video and says that connecting with service members is at the heart of her work. “There’s so much stress in the world today. It’s nice to see people smile and see people let down their guard for a second. And dogs can do where people can’t,” she said.
Established by Sharecare in association with The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter (NY NATAS), the Sharecare Awards promote and reward excellence for the best productions and programming in health and well-being.
The American Red Cross is one of 15 winners in the fourth annual Sharecare Awards across a range of categories, from chronic conditions to community health. During the month of October, each category winner will be featured on Sharecare’s LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
At military and veteran hospitals around the globe, Red Cross volunteers promote well-being and offer support to those who need it most. International and Service the Armed Forces Communications Lead Susan Malandrino said she was pleased to see this program and the dedication of Red Cross volunteers recognized with this award.
“Our dogs and their handlers connect with service members, veterans and their families during tremendously challenging times and make a difference in the lives of so many. It’s great to see this work get the recognition it deserves,” she said.
Entries were judged by the Sharecare Awards Academy of Judges — a curated team of leading healthcare and media professionals with expertise in each of the competition categories. The Sharecare Award in each category was determined after a second round of judging by the deans of the Academy of Judges and a committee of additional experts.
“In an extremely competitive fourth year, each of our finalists delivered inspiring content, productions, and programs that exemplify the commitment to education, awareness, and inspired action that the Sharecare Awards were founded to recognize,” said Donna Hill Howes, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of corporate partnerships at Sharecare. “We now take great pleasure in using our platform to showcase the best-in-class work of our winners across categories that represent the diversity of experiences shaping consumers’ health and lives today.”
The Sharecare Awards is operated through the Sharecare Foundation, a nonprofit entity that Sharecare established solely in support of this awards program, with the support of its generous sponsors and in association with NY NATAS, which fosters creativity and inspires artistic and technical excellence through the renowned EmmyÒ Award. More information about the Sharecare Awards is available at https://sharecareawards.org. Visit here to watch Red Cross Dogs Help Service Members at Walter Reed.
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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