American Red Cross
Northern California Coastal Region
redcross.org/norcalcoastal
Media Contact: Kathryn Hecht
Telephone: 707-291-9601
kathryn.hecht@redcross.org
SAN FRANCISCO (June 29, 2021) — The American Red Cross honored 57 local residents and two community partners at recent recognition events for volunteers from San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Clara Counties. The annual events were held virtually on due to COVID-19 precautions.
Gary Zellerbach of San Francisco County and Suzie Hall of Santa Clara County received the Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership. Named after the founder of the American Red Cross, the award recognizes a volunteer for service in a series of leadership positions held over a number of years.
Margot Simpson and Diane Orsetti of Alameda County, Stan Massie of Contra Costa County and Deborah Torres of San Mateo County were named Volunteers of the Year. This award is given annually to individuals that best exemplify the spirit of volunteerism.
“These notable volunteers are the embodiment of compassion turned to action," said Jennifer Adrio, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region. "Their contributions have been absolutely critical to the success of the Red Cross mission, especially as we navigated the unexpected pivot that 2020 demanded."
While the annual events spotlight several key volunteers, the events are designed to acknowledge all local Red Cross volunteers. “This past year, 4,330 dedicated and wonderful volunteers contributed more than 170,000 hours to support the mission of the Red Cross, even during this challenging time of COVID-19,” said Adrio. “Their selfless gifts of time and energy make the work of the Red Cross possible.”
In addition to the Clara Barton and Volunteer of the Year Awards, the following accolades were also given to local volunteers during the Red Cross recognition events:
Alameda County
Contra Costa County
San Francisco County
San Mateo County
Santa Clara County
Become a Red Cross Volunteer:
You too can make a difference by becoming a volunteer with the American Red Cross. Volunteers constitute about 90 percent of the total Red Cross workforce that carries out our humanitarian work. Red Cross volunteers are trained to meet the needs of those affected by disasters - providing food, shelter, and comfort to families affected by major disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes, as well as helping local residents prepare for and recover from emergencies of all kinds. To find the position that appeals to you and allows you to use your skills and talents, please visit this site.
About American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% 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 or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.