Media Contact: Martin Gagliano
Telephone: (510) 368-8320
martin.gagliano@redcross.org
SAN FRANCISCO, June 27, 2022 — The American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter honored 28 local residents and three community partners at its annual recognition event – held virtually this year – for chapter volunteers from Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties on May 24.
San Mateo County resident Barbara Wood received the chapter’s top honor, the Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Leadership. Named after the founder of the Red Cross, the award recognizes a volunteer for service in a series of leadership positions held over a number of years.
Wood joined the Red Cross in 2006 after 30 years as a local reporter; 16 years later, this Red Cross communications volunteer has a wealth of experience and 30 disaster relief deployments under her belt. She's traveled throughout Northern California and across the country to support the Red Cross mission and ensure that information about vital relief and recovery services is shared in a timely and accurate manner during disasters.
In addition to the Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Leadership, the following awards were given to local volunteers at the Red Cross recognition event:
While the annual recognition event spotlights several key Red Cross volunteers, it is designed to acknowledge and honor the work of all local Red Cross volunteers who dedicate many hours in service to the Red Cross and their local communities. This past year, 2,926 Bay Area Chapter volunteers contributed more than 131,616 hours to support the mission.
“Volunteers are the heart of the American Red Cross and make up 90 percent of our workforce in the greater Bay Area,” said Barry Falke, Red Cross Interim Regional CEO. “Their selfless contribution of time and energy makes the work of the Red Cross possible. As the relentless pace of severe crises continues in our area, our volunteers grow our capacity and help ensure families never face these emergencies alone.”
Become a Red Cross Volunteer:
Community members can make a difference in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco or San Mateo County by becoming a Red Cross volunteer. As this year’s heightened wildfire outlook continues a years-long trend of more frequent and intense climate disasters, volunteers are continually trained to meet the needs of those affected by disasters – providing food, shelter, and comfort to families; and they help local residents prepare for and recover from emergencies of all kinds. Red Cross volunteers also provide assistance to military members, veterans and their families; support the collection of 40% of the nation’s blood; and provide humanitarian aid across the globe. Those interested in finding the right position for their specific skills and talents can visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to get started.
About the American Red Cross of the Bay Area
With local offices in San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, 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/bayarea or call us at (415) 427-8000. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter
# # #