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Nine-year-old who saved her three-year-old brother’s life, military organization supporting troops around the globe, and Riverside Police Department officer who saved an infant’s life are among the eight honorees being recognized

Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, CALIF. — February 20, 2025 — The American Red Cross is celebrating individuals from Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for outstanding acts of courage and community service at the 2025 Inland Empire Heroes Awards. This event will be held on Tuesday, March 18 at the Ontario Convention Center.

“Not all heroes wear capes! Our Inland Empire Heroes Awards and luncheon recognizes ordinary people with extraordinary courage in our communities,” said Lois Beckman, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Riverside County. “From saving lives to helping their communities, each hero being honored has their own incredible story, and we know that everyone who attends this year’s event will be truly inspired.”

2025 Inland Empire Heroes Awards Honorees

• Youth Hero Award: Ariel Barba – San Bernardino, Calif. On the morning of September 1, 2024, nine-year-old Ariel Barba woke up and checked on her three-year-old brother, Elijah, as she did every morning. She realized her brother was not where he should be, looked outside and noticed he was face down in the pool. Without hesitation, Ariel jumped into the pool and pulled her brother from the water. She immediately began performing CPR on her unconscious brother. An adult family member arrived and rushed Elijah to a nearby hospital, where he received medical treatment. Medical staff advised Elijah's family that Ariel had most likely saved her brother’s life. Ariel learned CPR from watching a video on YouTube that showed a child doing the job of a lifeguard and showed step-by-step how to perform CPR. Thanks to her knowledge and heroism, Ariel saved her brother’s life.
• First Responder Hero Award: Ransom De Castro – Riverside, Calif. In September 2024, Officer Ransom De Castro with the Riverside Police Department was dispatched to a call of a one-month-old baby who was in distress and not breathing. When he arrived on scene, Officer De Castro assessed the situation and began performing infant CPR, which resulted in the baby beginning to breathe on its own. He continued to assist when medical personnel arrived. The infant began to show signs of life and was immediately transported to a local hospital for additional treatment. Trauma staff at the hospital stabilized the infant, who began breathing on its own with good vital signs. Officer De Castro’s heroic efforts prevented significant brain damage in the baby and ultimately helped save the infant’s life.
• Service to the Armed Forces Hero Award: Raven Hilden – Murrieta, Calif. Raven Hilden is the founder and CEO of MilVet, an organization that supports members of the military community in the Inland Empire and beyond. MilVet’s programs include emergency veteran support, advocacy, holiday assistance for military families and more. Every month, MilVet coordinates care package assembly events and distributes them to deployed service members across the world, including at Red Cross stations throughout Eastern Europe. “Raven Hilden’s hard work, dedication, leadership, and vision is the fuel that moves the MilVet mission forward. Her presence is enriching and inspiring, and the Inland Empire is a much better community with her in it,” says Raul Diaz, Regional Service to the Armed Forces Program Manager with the American Red Cross Southern California Region.
• Animal Welfare Hero Award: San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Animal Care – San Bernardino, Calif. During the Line Fire and Bridge Fires in 2024, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Animal Care (Animal Care) played a vital role in helping animals displaced by the wildfires. Animal Care operated three shelters for evacuated animals, which were co-located at disaster shelters run by the Red Cross and partners – allowing evacuees to be housed as close as possible to their pets. In total, Animal Care cared for 645 animals between the three animal shelter locations, including pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, donkey, ducks, tortoise, guinea pigs, rabbits, horses, alpaca, peacocks, turtles, turkeys, parakeets, and a gecko. By caring for evacuated animals, they not only helped impacted animals but also provided comfort to their owners, who were able to evacuate knowing there would be a safe place for their pets.
• Disaster Services Hero Award: Travis Snyder – Crestline, Calif. In February 2023, winter storms brought historic snowfall to the San Bernardino mountains, trapping many in their homes and significantly impacting accessibility to mountain communities. Seeing so many in need of help, Travis Snyder of Advantage Backhoes worked tirelessly to move snow clearing equipment up the mountain, even hiking 19 miles from his house down the mountain initially to meet his operators and facilitate the movement of equipment up the mountain. In the following days, Travis and his operators worked day and night to dig out neighborhoods inundated with snow. Travis and his operators worked 24 hours a day for 19 days straight while working with San Bernardino County emergency response teams, playing a critical role in helping those impacted and proving to be an invaluable asset to the Incident Management Team who was tasked with rescue efforts.
• Good Samaritan Hero Award: Thomas Mann – Temecula, Calif. In July 2024 Thomas Mann, a certified American Red Cross Lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor, and Lifeguard Instructor, was on his way to work as a Lead Lifeguard with the City of Temecula Aquatics Team when he stopped at a gas station. While parking, he was notified of an unresponsive person surrounded by a crowd of people. He immediately assessed the scene, where he saw an unconscious man on the ground, bleeding from the back of his head and not breathing. Without hesitation, Thomas ran to his car, grabbed his hip pack and immediately began performing CPR. He provided continuous care until EMS arrived and took over medical care. Using his Red Cross training and knowledge, Thomas was able to help save the man’s life.
• Gift of Life Hero Award: DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont – Claremont, Calif. Since September 2020, the DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont has hosted 44 Red Cross blood drives. Thanks to their dedication, these blood drives have resulted in the collection of 1,178 units of blood, which could positively impact thousands of lives. Having dedicated blood drive sponsors like the DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont is invaluable, and helps the Red Cross provide lifesaving blood to patients in need. The efforts of blood drive hosts like the DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont not only contribute to the vital need for blood donations, but also foster a sense of community spirit and compassion.
• Corporate Hero Award: Quality Foam Packaging, Aerofoam Industries – Lake Elsinore, Calif.
  Aerofoam Industries and its sister company, Quality Foam Packaging, were founded by Noel and Ruth Castellon to provide comfortable seating solutions for commercial airlines. For over 25 years, the Castellons have supported the American Red Cross, donating more than $250,000 to support the Red Cross mission and helping the organization make a difference every day for those who rely on its services in disasters and other emergencies.

The Inland Empire Heroes Awards is made possible thanks to the generosity of Regional Sponsor U.S. Bank; Presenting Sponsors Mrs. Joan Herman and Sysco Riverside; Community Sponsors Altura Credit Union, Circle K, Double Tree by Hilton Claremont, Inland Empire Business Journal, JJ Roofing, Ed Monie, the Ontario Convention Center, and other local sponsors.

“The generous support of our event sponsors allows us to honor incredible individuals from across the Inland Empire, as well as raise funds for vital Red Cross services,” said Yevette Baysinger, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of San Bernardino County.

This year's event donations will benefit Red Cross Disaster Relief. From Hurricanes Helene and Milton to the Airport Fire, Line Fire, Bridge Fire, Los Angeles wildfires and countless other crises, the Red Cross has been there for thousands of people across the nation - providing vital relief and tangible help and hope - to ensure no one faces a disaster alone. Donations to Red Cross Disaster Relief will help the organization continue to deliver care to people in need. 

Nominations for the Inland Empire Heroes Awards are accepted year-round. Individual event tickets and sponsorships are also available now. For more information about the Inland Empire Heroes Awards, please visit redcross.org/IEHeroes.

About the American Red Cross  
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/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with the Southern California Region on X, Instagram, YouTube or Facebook. 

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