In 2025, the Padres designated six games as First Responder Salutes to celebrate, honor, and thank first responders who serve and support the San Diego community. Among those selected for recognition were police, fire, and lifeguard departments throughout San Diego County, the Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, FBI, DEA, and American Red Cross disaster volunteers.

On September 2, 2025, Red Cross volunteers and their family and friends had the opportunity to attend the game. Before the game began, more than 60 disaster volunteers lined the field and were recognized for their unwavering commitment to serving the San Diego community.

“Today, we are proud to welcome and recognize American Red Cross volunteers from throughout San Diego County that answer the call and provide much-needed support and resources when disaster strikes,” said the announcer at the game.

In the past year, the disaster team has responded to 343 local disasters, including 288 home fires and 25 brush fires. They provided immediate financial assistance, health and mental health support, spiritual care counseling, and recovery planning and resources to 505 local families, which included 1,237 individuals.

In addition to responding to local disasters, nearly 100 local volunteers deployed more than 150 times to support those impacted by disasters across the nation. From Hurricane Helene in North Carolina to the Los Angeles Wildfires and the devastating flooding in Texas, volunteers from San Diego were on the ground providing comfort and care when it was needed most.

Red Cross volunteer Rick Krukowski was selected to ring the Mission Bell at the game. Rick has been a Red Cross volunteer since 2017. He is part of the preparedness and disaster response teams in San Diego where he has qualifications in home fire response, feeding, logistics, distribution of supplies, damage assessment, smoke alarms installations, and more. Rick has personally responded 81 times to local home fires, providing those in need with critical recovery resources. He has also deployed to many disasters across the nation, including Hurricane Beryl in Texas, and the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside Counties. In addition to his dedicated work as a volunteer, Rick also donates blood and platelets. He was inspired to donate the gift of life after receiving lifesaving blood needed after a critical vehicle accident that nearly took his life.

Melissa Altman was selected to throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. Melissa began her Red Cross journey as a volunteer in 2017 and was hired as a Preparedness Manager in 2018. Over the past eight years, Melissa has led Sound the Alarm, the free smoke alarm installation program that has made more than 12,000 homes safer in San Diego and Imperial Counties. During her time in this role, at least 25 lives have been saved locally by smoke alarms installed during Sound the Alarm events and smoke alarm installation appointments. In addition, Melissa has prepared thousands of families and children with disaster preparedness presentations, starter preparedness kits, and materials that have better prepared them for disasters. Melissa also helps carry out response and recovery efforts for local disasters and has deployed across the nation to help those in need after disasters.

Phillip Brown was honored as the Hometown Hero of the Game. Phillip joined the Red Cross in 2023, following the Hawaii Wildfires. During the short time that he has been a Red Cross volunteer, he has made a significant impact in San Diego and across the nation. Phillip, a local church pastor in San Diego, volunteers in sheltering, feeding, disaster assessment, spiritual care, and condolence counseling to the next of kin after disaster fatalities. Phillip has deployed for weeks at a time to the tornado response in Oklahoma, Hurricane Beryl in Texas, Hurricane Debby in Georgia and North Carolina, the Airport, Bridge, and Line Fires in Southern California, the Los Angeles Wildfires and the Kentucky Spring Flooding. Phillip possesses innate calmness, peace and positivity that is invaluable in the chaos of large-scale natural disasters.

The Red Cross is honored to have received recognition at the Padres Salute to Service game and joins Padres fans in celebrating Red Cross disaster volunteers who answer the call when it’s needed most.