Media Contact:
Brianna Kelly, Regional Communications Manager 
brianna.kelly@redcross.org
 

SAN DIEGO (June 13, 2025) – San Diego and Imperial Counties are home to many local, everyday heroes. People who have gone above and beyond to save a life, those who have worked to help a neighbor in need or people and organizations making difference in their community. Do you know an “ordinary” person with extraordinary courage? If so, the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties needs your help! The Red Cross wants you to nominate local heroes to be recognized at the organization’s 23rd Annual Real Heroes Awards.

“Heroes don’t always wear capes. As we seek nominations for this year’s Real Heroes Awards, we need the public’s help to identify hometown heroes we can celebrate for their contributions,” says Sean Mahoney, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Southern California Region.

Nominating a hero is free and can be done easily online. Nominations are due by Monday, July 14, 2025. For more information on nomination guidelines or to submit a nomination, visit redcross.org/sandiego/realheroes.  

Honorees will be celebrated across eight categories: Animal Welfare Hero, Corporate Hero, Disaster Services Hero, First Responder Hero, Gift of Life Hero, Good Samaritan Hero, Service to the Armed Forces Hero and Youth Hero. For complete category descriptions, visit redcross.org/sandiego/realheroes.

Now celebrating its 23^rd year in the community, the Real Heroes Awards celebrates people and organizations making a positive impact in San Diego and Imperial Counties through their courage, compassion and community leadership. Since the event’s inception, hundreds of local heroes have been recognized. This year’s award recipients will be honored during an awards event and breakfast on Friday, September 26, 2025, aboard the USS Midway Museum.

Heroes are nominated by the public and are chosen by an awards selection committee. Honorees are selected based on the degree to which their actions uphold the values of the Red Cross humanitarian mission and leave a lasting and positive impact on the community.

For more information about the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties, please visit redcross.org/SoCal.

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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