LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10, 2020 — Calling all heroes! Do you know an "ordinary” person with extraordinary courage? Do you know someone who has saved a life, helped a neighbor in need, or made a difference in their community? The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region is seeking nominations for its 16th Annual Hometown Heroes Luncheon honoring courageous individuals from across Los Angeles County who have demonstrated heroism through extraordinary acts of courage and humanitarian service. Heroes can be nominated via the Red Cross website (redcross.org/la-heroes) and are due by Jan. 31.
“Every day we’re surrounded by heroes, often without even knowing it,” said Veronica Garcia Davalos, Executive Director of the Greater Long Beach, Rio Hondo and South Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region, which has hosted the event since 2004. “We need the public’s help to identify everyday heroes in our community whom we can recognize for their contributions.”
Heroic acts such performing CPR or rescuing someone from drowning are encouraged; the heroic act must have occurred outside of the normal course and scope of the hero’s usual and customary work. Additionally, the Red Cross asks that all nominated heroes work or reside in L.A. County; though the heroic acts may have occurred elsewhere and have taken place in the last year.
Honorees from last year’s Hometown Heroes Luncheon include Gabriel Casillo, who used his Red Cross first aid training to rescue a choking classmate; Daniel Tauch and Jesus Villavicencio, who helped a fellow construction worker who collapsed on the job due to a seizure caused by a brain aneurysm. Tauch and Villavicencio delivered CPR and assisted emergency personnel as they stabilized the man in order to transport him to a nearby hospital.
SEE: Photos from the Red Cross 15th Annual Hometown Heroes Luncheon (Flickr)
This year’s award recipients will be honored at the 16th Hometown Heroes Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 14 at the Carson Community Center in Carson. The Hometown Heroes Luncheon is made possible by the generosity of sponsors including Phillips 66 and Big 5 Sporting Goods.
For sponsorship information and to nominate a hero, visit redcross.org/la-heroes.
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.