Media Contact: Martin Gagliano
Telephone: (669) 209-5266
nccrpublicaffairs@redcross.org
SANTA CRUZ (CA) July 5, 2023 —— The American Red Cross Central Coast Chapter honored 12 local residents and two community partners at their annual recognition event for chapter volunteers from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties on April 20.
At the event, Jamshid Kiani 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 their years of service in various leadership positions.
In his eight years as a Red Cross volunteer, Kiani has achieved a high level of competence in many disaster areas. He cares deeply and collaborates with our volunteers and partners to achieve the best outcomes for the community we serve. Jamshid works with the Regional Response Management Team and recently became Training Manager. He is a patient, skilled disaster advance level instructor for new Red Cross disaster teams and volunteers.
In addition to this prestigious award, the following awards were given to local volunteers:
While the annual recognition event spotlights several key Red Cross volunteers, it serves as a celebration to honor the work of all local volunteers who dedicate many hours of service to the Red Cross and their local communities.
“This past year, I’m incredibly grateful to the 430 Central Coast Chapter volunteers who contributed more than 16,323 hours, making a difference in the lives of the people we serve,” said Michele Averill, Red Cross Central Coast CEO. “Some of our volunteers were also personally impacted by the 2023 winter storms and flooding, and these dedicated humanitarians continued to serve our communities. Thank you for all your work and dedication to the Red Cross mission.”
Become a Red Cross Volunteer:
Community members can make a difference in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties by becoming a Red Cross volunteer. As this year’s storms and floods continues a 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 Central Coast
With offices in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz 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, visit our website at redcross.org/centralcoast or call us at (831) 624-6921. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
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