The American Red Cross of Greater Idaho recently honored its board chairman by presenting him with an award named for him. The Roy Eiguren Leadership Award – for innovation, leadership and exceptional service in support of the American Red Cross and its multi-faceted mission – will be presented to an outstanding volunteer each year going forward. Award winners exemplify the highest level of commitment to Red Cross values and deliver superior service and extraordinary contributions toward the Red Cross mission.
Eiguren received the Roy Eiguren Leadership award at a Red Cross reception in downtown Boise in early August.
“I am flattered and humbled that the Red Cross of Idaho chose me to receive its first ever leadership award, let alone have it named after me,” Eiguren said. “I’m passionate in my commitment to the Red Cross, everything it does, and everything it stands for. It is an honor to be entrusted with the opportunity to help lead its activities in Idaho as chairman of the Idaho board of directors.”
The managing partner of Eiguren Ellis Public Policy, Eiguren has played an important role with the Red Cross by securing funding, recruiting leaders to the Red Cross board and using his influence to raise awareness of our work in Idaho.
“From the start, Roy generously opened his vast and highly influential network to advance our work,” said Nicole Sirak Irwin, regional CEO of the Red Cross of Idaho and Montana. “He is a powerful innovator who helps us navigate challenges and achieve high standards. The legacy that Roy is leaving today will have an impact for years to come.”
The Idaho Red Cross also has nominated Eiguren for the Presidential Award for Excellence, a national American Red Cross honor reserved for the most dedicated employees and volunteers in the organization.
Eiguren’s connections to the American Red Cross run deep. During World War II, his father Joe was severely wounded at the Battle of the Bulge and received a significant amount of blood from the Red Cross, which saved his life. Also during the war, after Joe’s mother had received call that Joe had been killed in action, the Red Cross was able to quickly deliver the message that Joe hadn’t actually been killed after all. Finally, in 1988, Joe was saved by the Red Cross again when it was able to locate a very specific kind of blood and flew it to Idaho from California in time to save Joe’s life after an aortic aneurysm.
Eiguren is widely recognized and valued for his strong ties and connections throughout Idaho, representing an array of large businesses, associations and agencies. He has extensive experience advocating for a wide range of complex issues on behalf of his clients and chaired two successful capital campaigns to renovate the state capitol and build the Idaho History Museum.
Previously, he was an attorney at Givens Pursley LLP and special assistant to the administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy. He also served as chief of the Legislative and Administrative Affairs Division of the attorney general of the State of Idaho, as a deputy secretary of state and as an Ada County deputy prosecuting attorney.
Eiguren is a graduate of the Executive Management Program of the Dartmouth School of Business Administration and attended Georgetown University College of Law and the University of Idaho College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate.
