SAN DIEGO – October 1, 2024 – Last week, the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties honored ordinary people with extraordinary courage at its 22nd Annual Real Heroes Awards aboard the USS Midway Museum. Over 300 attendees were present on Friday, September 27, to celebrate local lifesavers and difference makers at the Real Heroes Awards.
The event serves as the largest fundraising event for the Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties and raised over $178,000 for the organization.
To see videos highlighting each winner, click here. To view and download photos from the event, click here.
2024 Real Heroes Honorees:
***Click here to download hero and event photos***
- Disaster Services Hero: Robert Gladysz (San Diego, Calif.) – Officer Bobby Gladysz, a member of the San Diego Police Department and a former Marine, displayed remarkable heroism during the historic floods in San Diego on January 22, 2024. Despite having no formal water rescue training, Officer Gladysz acted decisively to save an estimated six people and four dogs from dangerous floodwaters. Braving treacherous currents and rising water levels, Officer Gladysz utilized any means necessary to reach those in distress. He broke windows, cleared debris, and even used a pickaxe to rescue residents trapped in their flooded apartments, including an elderly couple unable to escape the rising waters. Officer Gladysz’s courage and dedication to ensuring the safety of others, demonstrated through his fearless response under extreme conditions, embody the true spirit of heroism.
- First Responder Hero: Steven Hannibal (El Cajon, Calif.) – On February 29, 2024, Officer Steven Hannibal of the El Cajon Police Department displayed extraordinary bravery during an active shooter incident at Smile Dentistry. Responding to multiple 911 calls reporting a shooter inside the dental office, Officer Hannibal arrived within one minute, assessing the situation and working with fellow officers to create a response plan. He provided first aid to the most severely wounded, applying gauze and tourniquets while broadcasting vital information to incoming units. Simultaneously, he helped direct additional injured victims to safety. As more officers and agencies arrived on the scene, a coordinated effort was launched to rescue remaining victims and apprehend the suspect. Officer Hannibal played a crucial role in this operation, ensuring the swift evacuation and medical treatment of the injured. Officer Hannibal’s bravery, along with the professionalism and teamwork of his colleagues, resulted in the survival and transport of two critically injured victims to the hospital.
- Service to the Armed Forces Hero: Joseph Glaser-Reich (San Diego, Calif.) – In addition to saving members of the public in the course of his duties as a Rescue Swimmer, AST1 Joseph Glaser-Reich dedicates countless hours to saving his brothers and sisters in-arms in the Coast Guard. He founded and chairs Sector San Diego’s Mental Health Advisory Council. The Council provides mental health resources including a Peer Support Space which provides a confidential environment for service members to discuss personal or professional issues. At the national level, AST1 Glaser-Reich also contributes as a technical provider for the Coast Guard's new Integrated Primary Prevention Program that provides resources aimed at helping Sentinels build their resilience and well-being to mitigate harmful behaviors such as alcohol addiction and suicidal thoughts.
- Gift of Life Hero: Jean Samaniego (San Diego, Calif.) – Jean Samaniego is a committed platelet donor, donating every two weeks at the Red Cross Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center. Every 15 seconds someone needs platelets, and platelets must be used within five days, which is why platelet donors are special and needed every day. Samaniego’s dedication is deeply personal; her wife Julie's medical issues required blood transfusions, making her even more aware of the impact of donations. As of mid-July, Samaniego has donated 252 platelet units, benefiting patients locally and across the U.S.
- Youth Hero: Katie Tadlock (Chula Vista, Calif.) – 18-year-old Katie Tadlock was driving a group of friends and family when she observed a crashed vehicle. She pulled over to help, instructed her mom to call 911 and had her brother grab her backpack, which contained a first aid kit. Tadlock assessed the situation and realized the driver was unable to breathe. Drawing on her training, she performed a modified lifeguard spinal rescue to monitor the victim’s pulse and clear his airway. Her brother assisted by opening the door, unbuckling the victim, and patting his chest to help him cough up fluids as a nurse arrived and verified Tadlock’s actions. Tadlock’s courage and her quick response helped save the victim and provide comfort until EMS arrived.
- Good Samaritan Heroes: Mike and Janet Nelson (Escondido, Calif.) – On Christmas Eve 2023, Detective Mike Nelson and his wife Janet were driving home when they came upon a car crash involving a vehicle upside-down submerged in water. Despite the cold weather and a bystander's discouragement, Mike entered the water and despite significant obstacles, he successfully pulled the victim to safety. Mike administered CPR while Janet used her medical expertise to provide critical patient assessment and coaching until the victim began to breathe on his own. They continued their efforts until the paramedics took over. The victim was later released from the hospital, thanks to the Nelsons’ quick and selfless actions.
- Animal Welfare Hero: Laura Oliver (El Cajon, Calif.) – Laura Oliver is the founder of Lionel's Legacy Senior Dog Rescue. Her organization focuses on rescuing senior dogs from shelters, providing them with medical care, and finding them loving homes, while also addressing the needs of dogs with chronic and terminal medical issues through a forever foster program. Lionel's Legacy home programs focus on pet retention models such as temporary boarding for pet owners in crisis, financial assistance for veterinary care, incentives for adopting senior pets from shelters, and free microchip services to reunite lost pets. Oliver’s innovative initiatives include a low-cost dental clinic for senior pets, aimed at providing services so pet owners don’t have to choose surrender or euthanasia due to lack of resources. She also co-founded the San Diego Rescue Coalition, a collaboration of animal welfare agencies working together to improve animal rescue efforts in San Diego.
- Corporate Hero: U.S. Bank (San Diego, Calif.) – For nearly 10 years, U.S. Bank has been a dedicated supporter of the Red Cross San Diego and Imperial Counties. U.S. Bank and the U.S. Bank Foundation fund Red Cross home fire preparedness, response and recovery work and encourage employee volunteerism across local communities. Additionally, U.S. Bank has dedicated itself to the Red Cross mission nationally as a member of the Disaster Responder Program. Over the course of their local relationship, U.S. Bank and the U.S. Bank Foundation have donated over $200,000 to help prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of the most common disaster we face: home fires. Beyond their work with the Red Cross, U.S. Bank and the U.S. Bank Foundation have provided relief funds to the San Diego Foundation, supported the Downtown San Diego Partnership, sponsored the San Diego Housing Federation's focus on affordable housing, worked with the San Diego Padres to help families of fallen service members and more. In 2023, U.S. Bank and the U.S. Bank Foundation committed $96 million in corporate contributions and foundation grants nationwide, and employees across the country contributed 360,000 volunteer hours.
This year’s Real Heroes Awards is made possible thanks to generous sponsors, including Hometown Hero Sponsor San Diego Gas & Electric; Humanitarian Sponsors San Diego City Firefighters Local 145 and Sycuan Casino & Resort; Regional Sponsor U.S. Bank; and Presenting Sponsors Kaiser Permanente, Mission Fed Credit Union, San Diego State University and the Sulpizio Family. Real Heroes Match Sponsor Falck Mobile Health matched all event donations up to $10,000 in support of Red Cross Disaster Relief.
Real Heroes Awards nominations are submitted by the public and are chosen by a selection committee based on the extent to which nominees embody the spirit and mission of the Red Cross. Real Heroes nominations are accepted year-round at redcross.org/sandiego/realheroes.
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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