FRESNO (Oct. 1, 2025) – The Central Valley is home to many local, everyday heroes. People who have gone above and beyond to save a life, those who have worked to help a neighbor in need, or people and organizations making a difference in their community. If you know a local hero, your local Red Cross wants you to nominate them to be recognized at the organization’s Central Valley Heroes Awards next spring.

“Each year at our Central Valley Heroes Awards, we recognize people and organizations for acts of bravery and community impact.” says Lori Wilson, Executive Director of the Red Cross Central Valley Chapter. “As we seek nominations for next spring’s event, we need the public’s help to identify heroes we can celebrate for their contributions.

Nominations are being accepted for the following ten categories: Good Samaritan Hero, Youth Hero, Lifesaving Rescue Hero, First Responder Hero, Military Hero, Community Impact Hero, Global Citizenship Hero, Healthcare Hero, Education Hero and Clara Barton Humanitarian Hero. For complete category descriptions, visit redcross.org/cvheroes.  

Nominating a hero is free and can be done quickly and easily online. Nominations are due by November 7, 2025. For more information on nomination guidelines or to submit a nomination, visit redcross.org/cvheroes.  

“Your hero could be a colleague, family member, neighbor, friend or an organization that performed a selfless act of bravery or helped improve our community,” says Wilson. “If you know a local hero, we encourage you to nominate them to be recognized at the Central Valley Heroes Awards.”

This Central Valley Heroes Awards event honors people and organizations making a positive impact in the five counties in the Central Valley (Madera, Mariposa, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties) through their courage, compassion and community leadership. Next year’s award recipients will be honored during the event on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at The Grand 1401 in Downtown Fresno.

Heroes are nominated by the public and are chosen by an awards selection committee comprised of local community leaders. Honorees are selected based on the degree to which their actions uphold the values of the Red Cross humanitarian mission and leave a lasting and positive impact on the community.

For more information about the American Red Cross of the Central Valley, please visit redcross.org/centralcalifornia.

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.