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[San Jose, CA – July 31, 2017] The Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of the Silicon Valley held its annual meeting in June at Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park and elected six new members to the board to further reflect the growth and diversity of the Silicon Valley community. The Board of Directors also elected a new chair, Terry Unter, a former hi-tech executive who has been a Red Cross disaster responder for nearly three years.  

“The American Red Cross responds to help families affected by a disaster every 24 hours in Silicon Valley, and as the community grows and changes, it’s essential that we grow with it in smart ways,” Unter said. “Each individual joining the Board brings something new and powerful to our work advancing the mission of the Red Cross.”

The new board members bring diverse experiences to this leadership body, including decades of experience in the tech, retail, and health care industries in Silicon Valley.

The new members, who began their terms effective July 1, are:

· Liz Dietz, Professor Emeritus, San Jose State University School of Nursing and Community Volunteer

· Stan Dutrow, Former High-Tech Product Development Specialist & Consultant

· Pooja Roa, Student from Cupertino High School

· Katie Roper, Vice President, Health Care Strategy, Home Care Assistance

· Manav Singh, Founding Partner, SOAProjects, Inc.

· Josh Whitton, Vice President, Marketing, Orchard Supply Hardware

“We are wrapping up an amazing year,” said Ken Toren, CEO, American Red Cross of the Silicon Valley. “Our volunteers helped more than 1,128 local families faced with disasters, from small home fires to large disasters like Loma Fire and the San Jose floods; installed more than 800 smoke alarms to make families safer; taught lifesaving skills like first aid, CPR and AED to more than 17,000 residents; and assisted nearly 550 members of the armed forces.”

Toren thanked the board's outgoing chair, Chris Carlton, “for providing effective leadership, which has been key to our success.” He added that “we’re looking forward to all that we will accomplish with our new board members and officers to further the Red Cross mission.”

Here is a complete list of the American Red Cross of the Silicon Valley Board of Directors as of July 2017: redcross.org/local/californiaorthern-california-coastal/chapters/silicon-valley/leadership 

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About the American Red Cross of the Silicon Valley
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. The American Red Cross of the Silicon Valley serves the residents of Santa Clara County.  For more information on disaster preparedness, health and safety classes, volunteer opportunities, and financial contributions, visit our website at redcross.org/siliconvalley or call us at 1-877-727-6771. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter.