Every day, Red Cross volunteers perform amazing work, dedicating their time and talent to the fulfilment of our humanitarian mission. During this complicated and difficult time, recognizing the impact of volunteer service -- and the power of volunteers -- is more important than ever. Please help us congratulate these members of our Red Cross family who have given the best of themselves to help others (recognition period - 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021).
Greater Orlando Chapter
Joshua Rahaman, Business Operations
Josh became a GO Volunteer at the end of 2019. He joined the front desk team just before we closed the offices for the pandemic. In the late spring he emailed me and asked if there was anything he could do to assist us even with the offices closed. He helps other teams too! He deployed last year to the Gulf Coast in response to one of the multiple hurricanes.
Sheila Ruiz, Disaster Cycle Services
Sheila became an excellent mentor and guide to incoming DHS volunteers during the most critical months of the pandemic. She epitomizes the Values and Principles of the Red Cross, and her devoted, calm and on-point leadership has successfully provided an easy integration path for new volunteers.
Cassi McCarrick, Public Affairs
Cassi completed her required courses just few weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, she has written numerous articles for our website, and contributed to video projects geared for volunteers and staff members in the entire region. Cassi also interviewed the USVI staff as we welcomed their team into our region. We are extremely grateful for her unwavering support.
Alice Nguyen, Service to the Armed Forces
Alice is one of SAF's Volunteer Engagement Leads and has shown great eagerness to make sure that our SAF volunteers at large are doing work they love. She has attended all of her required training and agreed to help with the new volunteer referral process. We appreciate her willingness to learn and her participation in team meetings
Giordana “Gio” Lyons, Volunteer Services
In the role of screener, Gio is often the first person to whom a prospective volunteer speaks. Her knowledge of the Red Cross and understanding of referral processes has been critical in her success. She is often times called upon to have screeners-in-training observe her on interview calls so that they can see a pro at work.
Mid-Florida Chapter
Eddie Hurst, Business Operations
Eddie is a great team player across the organization. He helps take care of our fleet in Leesburg, as needed, and makes time to be available in the building when we have inspections or maintenance activities scheduled.
Shawn Clark, Disaster Cycle Services
Shawn has done a superb job as the DAT Coordinators for the Chapter. During our transition to RC Care, he represented the Chapter on planning and implementation, and he has made himself available for response and to support other volunteers.
Ryan Buckley, Fund Development
Ryan came to the board with drive to serve the mission of the Red Cross. He has used his influence to create many growing opportunities for the region. He has spent many hours providing introductions, planning fundraising opportunities, and sharing information and skills with staff throughout the region.
Laura Patrick, Service to the Armed Forces
Laura serves as the Red Cross Volunteer Services Council representative at James A. Haley Tampa VA and has single-handily maintained the partnership during the pandemic. Her leadership has resulted in 100 percent representation at the quarterly VA Volunteer Services Council meeting. She partnered with the Red Cross Club at USF during their drive to collect and donate items to hospitalized veterans. She is also actively involved with the Lakeland, Florida Veteran’s Council, ensuring Red Cross programs and services reach those in the community that need it most. In addition, she also led the Region’s efforts for the Month of Service Compassionate Care project, training and assigning lists of families to more than 20 volunteers who help call nearly 4,000 families.
Rebecca Hester, Volunteer Services
Rebecca has been on the VS team for the past year and has always been willing to jump in and help wherever needed. This ranges from all clean-up efforts in the offices, painting, delivering signs, submitting volunteer training hours, recruitment ....and the list goes on.
Southwest Florida Chapter
Michael Resnick, Business Operations
Mike is celebrating his 7th year with Red Cross. He helps to maintain the vehicles and keeps an eye on facilities. Mike lends a helping hand during this time when our offices are closed by assisting vendors who “pop by.” He also readily make trips to outlying offices to delivers supplies.
Holly Blaine, Disaster Cycle Services
Holly has worked tirelessly in Casework for the Chapter. She has helped our DAT teams understand the process in RC Care as well as mentoring them on the intake process. She has also stepped into a mass care role in helping to update shelter information in RC View and NSS.
David Sessions, Fund Development
As the chair of the Philanthropy Committee for the SWFL Chapter Board of Directors, David has set the example for dedication in reaching the goal for this year's board project. He shared his efforts with his fellow board members for the chapter, encouraging thier participation as well. All of these activities guided the Southwest Florida Chapter to raising over half of their board project goal in just a few short weeks.
Ann Quackenbush, Service to the Armed Forces
Ann's dedication and support to the SAF Casework Team during the COVID 19 Pandemic has been remarkable. As part of the MEPS Families Cold-Calling Team, she called numerous families of new service members, ensuring they received the information they needed on how to reach the Red Cross in case of an Emergency at Home. Her commitment and support allowed our Region to manage over 2000 additional MEPS cases.
Mary Ellen Reser, Volunteer Services
Mary Ellen is a vital member of the Volunteer Intake Processing Center (VIPC) where she is responsible for connecting with new applicants as the very first contact to help them through the application process. She has been asked to be on the Advanced Volunteer Intake Processing Team to help with special projects with our national headquarters. She also deployed in Staff Services for the first-time last year and was an integral part of ensuring the responders from that response were following proper COVID-19 quarantine protocol upon release from the operation.
Space Coast Chapter
Ron Cook, Business Operations
Ron joined the Space Coast volunteer team in 2018. He helps ensure the chapter vehicles are driven weekly and has been very helpful in logistics as well. He can be counted on to offer assistance whenever needed.
Pedro Quinones-Calcano, Disaster Cycle Services
We would like to recognize Pedro for his dedication and commitment to learning the new RC Care system and helping other new and veteran DAT members to get acclimated to the system. He provides one-on-one training with volunteers and mentors new DAT volunteers. Pedro is dedicated to providing the very best service to our clients.
Anda Ray, Fund Development
Anda was instrumental in establishing a relationship with Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation which led to a significant donation to the Red Cross to promote water safety training. From initial outreach to the partnership proposal, she was a great strategic partner in the process.
Josephine “Jo Ann” Kumer, Service to the Armed Forces
Jo Ann is a vital member of our administrative team at Patrick Space Force Base, and never has it been more evident than during this pandemic. She has remained a steadfast example of care and compassion by checking in with our volunteers about their health and wellbeing, working behind the scenes to ensure accurate contact information and database management, and preparing the volunteers for a safe return to service. She stepped into the shoes of another longtime volunteer that retired from service and is currently mentoring a new volunteer on the admin team.
Donna Ahnert, Volunteer Services
In the role of IHL YAC Regional Coordinator, Donna has increased participation the program among youth club members and has been instrumental in helping the next generation of leaders obtain knowledge in humanitarian law. Her knowledge of the Red Cross transcends lines of service and her contributions cannot be overstated.
Tampa Bay Chapter
Mike Nolan, Business Operations
This year marks Mike's 15th anniversary with the organization. He supports our Tampa Office every Tuesday with our logistics team – they manage our fleet and the Regional Warehouse now located in Tampa. Each week they make sure our supplies are organized, where they need to be, and deliver expiring items to other organizations that can use them such as Metropolitan Ministries and Feeding Tampa Bay. Mike has deployed 40 times, including seven times in 2020 alone. He starts every day with a good attitude and a commonsense approach.
Jeanette Chavez, Disaster Cycle Services
Jeanette is one of our most trained and dependable DAT volunteers in Tampa Bay. She's been a Pinellas County DAT supervisor for three years and dedicates a lot of her time outside of DAT to other areas at Red Cross like community preparedness, Service to Armed Forces, and casework. Jeanette shows her compassion for others through her work in recovery. She makes an immediate connection with her clients and follows through until they are ready to go it alone. She is extremely reliable and willing to put in extra effort.
Cathy Smith, Fund Development
During this last year she joined the Steering Committee for Tiffany Circle and has assumed the position of Membership Chair for Tiffany Circle of Central Florida. She is a diligent worker, a great thought partner and incredibly generous in helping to facilitate our outreach to our Tiffany Circle members.
Leslie Ridlon, SAF
Leslie has been instrumental to our International Services Restoring Family Links (IS RFL) Program. Since joining our IS RFL Team, her meticulous follow up skill and eagerness to help connect families with their missing family member has made it possible for our Region to have 100 percent of all RFL cases worked within the required timeline. She is also eager to expand our RFL services by looking for ways to conduct virtual outreach. Her passion and excitement for the SAF mission are evident.
Karen Russo, Volunteer Services
Karen is the TB Chapters Hours Manager for Volunteer Services. Her resiliency and dedication to the organization is extraordinary. She checks and approves pending hours every week, twice a week. Working with Karen is nothing less than a joy and a pleasure.
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