LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20, 2021 — The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region awarded eight local volunteers at the annual Volunteer Excellence Awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon. Celebrating their distinguished service and dedication to the Red Cross mission, these volunteers selflessly donated their time during an exceptionally challenging year.
SEE: 2021 Volunteer Excellence Awards live feed (YouTube)
ALSO SEE: Photos of the 2021 Volunteer Excellence Awards Honorees (Flickr)
The live “California Jones” adventure-themed annual awards program was hosted for the region’s 7,266 Red Cross volunteers. Volunteers are integral to the work of the Red Cross, representing more than 90% of the workforce.
The honorees, along with the thousands of volunteers in the LA Region, received praise and gratitude for their commitment during a year in which the organization called on Angelenos to respond to California’s most destructive wildfire season on record, support disasters nationwide and successfully adapt all lines of service to a worldwide pandemic.
“During 2020, we prepared for a new kind of disaster season, one of pandemic proportions and virtual management, but still filled with compassion, kindness and relief,” said Joanne Nowlin, CEO for the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region. “We asked a lot from our volunteers this past year, and we are so thankful that not only did they show up – they showed up day after day after day. We found new ways to support the community and we learned how to volunteer in a virtual world – together.”
Committed to helping all those in need, volunteers deliver emergency support such as disaster relief, lifesaving blood, critical services for military families and veterans, lifesaving skills like CPR, international aid and so much more every day. Become a Red Cross volunteer by applying at redcross.org/volunteer.
The awardees include:
Andrew Lee – Biomedical Achievement
Thanks to Lee’s recruitment skills and effort in the youth community, a Veteran’s Day blood drive program exceeded its goal by 121%. Andrew also volunteered during the drive, leading by example to ensure the event's overwhelming success.
Barbara Colwell – Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership
Colwell is invaluable to mental health services during any, and all disaster relief operations. Experiencing a natural disaster or other emergency can be intensely stressful and Colwell helps mobilize and supervise multiple teams of volunteers that help support people as they take those first steps toward recovery.
Craig Renetzky – Volunteer Leadership
Celebrating his 36th year of Red Cross Service, Renetzky provided mega-level leadership across the Region’s 2020 disaster response calendar. Renetzky took on prolonged Operation Management responsibilities for three major disasters spanning over 165 days of service.
Kevin Austin – Disaster Preparedness & Response
As Recovery Manager for the August 2020 Northern California Wildfires, Austin simultaneously managed four Local Assistance Centers, while he and his team enrolled nearly 550 households for financial disaster relief. Austin also works with the Integrated Care and Condolence team who assists families when a disaster related death occurs.
Paula Pruner – Special Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service
As Shelter Readiness Account Manager, Pruner has worked hard to expand the shelter survey readiness initiative. Pruner’s dedication assures when disasters happen, the Red Cross has established facilities to quickly open for shelters and evacuation sites.
Rhonda Sparks – Service to the Armed Forces
When COVID-19 initially threatened the safety of veterans, service members and their families, Sparks reached out to her Red Cross network, friends and family to make and distribute face masks to the West Los Angeles and Long Beach veteran communities.
Vrezh (Victor) Grigoryan – International Services
Grigoryan’s dedicated work as a Restoring Family Links caseworker demonstrated his innovative and extraordinary efforts to successfully locate and reconnect a family seeking a missing member and beneficiary.
Wendy Wang – Outstanding Youth
Wang’s determination and leadership overcame limitations presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Arcadia Chapter’s E-Board President, Wang and her team recruited nearly 300 Red Cross volunteers to attend the chapter’s virtual events, maintaining a closeness of community through innovative activities that while distanced, kept hundreds of volunteers informed and engaged.
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/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.
