The American Red Cross of Illinois is honoring 15 exceptional individuals for acts of heroism and their contributions to the community at the organization’s 24th Annual Heroes Breakfast, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 7:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. 

WHAT: The Red Cross of Illinois is honoring local heroes chosen for their courage and their commitment to build a better community. 

WHERE: Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago 

WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 7:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. VISUALS: Heroes headshots may be accessed here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC2jkm Follow the event on social media: #RedCrossHeroes Facebook: @RedCrossIL Instagram: @RedCrossIL X: @RedCrossIL  Following are the 15 extraordinary individuals being honored at this year’s Red Cross Heroes Breakfast and the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Heritage Award:   

Suzanne Hammer of Woodridge is the Blood Services Hero: Suzanne Hammer has dedicated more than five decades to helping save lives through her passionate leadership of blood drives. As the Blood Program Leader at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Hammer coordinates 12 blood drives each year in partnership with the American Red Cross and hospital staff. Known for her creativity and enthusiasm, from themed décor to thoughtful outreach and community partnerships, her efforts help inspire donors and collect nearly 600 units of lifesaving blood annually. Hammer’s work is a powerful example of how dedication, creativity, and personal connection can make a lasting impact.  

Dr. LaMenta Conway of Flossmoor is the Education Hero: LaMenta Conway, M.D., MPH, is the founder of the I Am Abel Foundation, an organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders. Through its flagship Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Program, the I Am Abel Foundation identifies and nurtures the talents of inner-city youth by providing hands-on exposure to the medical field, academic support, and long-term mentorship. Since its founding, the I Am Abel Foundation has supported more than 500 scholars, helping open pathways to careers in medicine and strengthening the future of healthcare in underserved communities.   

Loné Williams of Chicago is the Community Impact Hero: Loné Williams turned personal tragedy into a mission to support survivors of domestic violence. After losing her mother to domestic violence in 2023, Williams founded Love & Protect Wisdom (LPW), an organization dedicated to healing, awareness, and prevention. Through LPW, Williams provides survivors with critical resources including free therapy, legal advocacy, emergency care kits, transportation to court, and financial assistance for temporary housing. In addition to direct services, LPW engages young people through educational workshops that promote healthy relationships and violence prevention. Her commitment to transforming pain into purpose is helping survivors find safety, support, and hope for the future.   

Ashley Huizar of Huntley is the Healthcare Hero: 
Five nurses from Advocate Sherman Hospital were traveling to a conference in Iowa when they came upon a serious crash at a rural intersection. Ashley Huizar, BSN, RN, TNS, ECRN, CEN, discovered a woman in critical condition inside a locked vehicle. With help from bystanders, they broke the car window, extracted the woman from the vehicle and Huizar immediately began CPR, continuing lifesaving care until paramedics arrived. The nurses later reflected on the experience as a powerful reminder of their calling, grateful that a change in their route placed them in the right place at the right time to help save a life.      

Cayla Boehm and Maelyn Garcia are the Youth Heroes: 
Cayla Boehm and Maelyn Garcia, youth leaders with Service and Learning Together (SaLT), have spent more than three years mobilizing hundreds of young volunteers to address food insecurity and support communities in crisis. Serving on SaLT’s student leadership team, Boehm and Garcia dedicate dozens of hours each month coordinating programs that provide weekly grocery deliveries to families across northern Illinois, offer free tutoring to younger students, and distribute care packages to communities affected by disasters nationwide. In 2025, the pair helped launch the “Take Care” initiative, which sends self-care packages and handwritten notes of encouragement to people facing hardship, from disaster survivors to first responders. Their leadership has helped SaLT impact thousands of lives while strengthening community partnerships and inspiring other young people to serve. 

Damon Lamar Reed and Nicole Reed of Chicago are the Social Justice Impact Heroes:  
Damon Lamar Reed and Nicole Reed are the co-founders of the Still Searching Project, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about underrepresented missing women and girls from the Chicagoland area. Through powerful art, murals, and community engagement, the project honors those who are missing while supporting their families and keeping their stories visible. To date, the Reeds have completed over 30 pieces, using art as a bridge between families, communities, and investigative authorities, while advocating public safety and amplifying the voices of those who might otherwise go unheard.   

Marco Lomibao of Glendale Heights and Dennis Stachura of Plainfield are the Law Enforcement Heroes: 
On December 14, 2025, Glendale Heights Police Officers Dennis Stachura and Marco Lomibao rescued three people after their vehicle broke through the ice of a local pond in freezing temperatures. With no other officers immediately available, they rushed to the scene and discovered the victims stranded 20 to 30 feet from shore. Without hesitation, the officers moved onto unstable ice to reach them. Officer Lomibao crawled across the ice and pulled two victims to safety, but when the ice gave way and he fell into the water, Officer Stachura quickly used a mop to stabilize the situation and help pull Lomibao and the third victim to shore. Thanks to their swift action, courage, and teamwork, all three individuals were safely rescued before additional help arrived.    

Keztly Angel of Forest Park is the Lifesaving Rescue Hero: On a quiet evening in September 2025, Loyola University Medical Center cashier Keztly Angel noticed emergency room physician Dr. Joan Dimopoulos suddenly choking in the hospital cafeteria. As others froze, Angel quickly jumped from behind the counter and performed abdominal thrusts, dislodging the food and restoring the doctor’s breathing. Her calm, quick action turned a frightening moment into a lifesaving one.    

Rima Ziuraitis of Naperville is the Global Citizenship Hero: Rima Ziuraitis has dedicated significant time to humanitarian efforts connected to the conflict in Ukraine. After years of advocacy and volunteer work, Ziuraitis left her career in corporate finance and traveled to Ukraine, where she trained in tactical medicine and began teaching basic lifesaving medical skills. In 2025, she joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a combat medic, supporting medical teams at stabilization stations that treat wounded civilians and military personnel. Inspired by her Lithuanian heritage, she says she felt called to serve where her skills were most needed. Through her work, Ziuraitis demonstrates a strong commitment to humanitarian service and the impact individuals can make in supporting others during times of crisis. 

Kevin McNicholas of Chicago is the Firefighter Hero:  
Off-duty Chicago firefighter/EMT Kevin McNicholas sprang into action on the night of November 2, 2025, when a fire broke out at a neighbor’s home in the Beverly neighborhood. Awakened by a knock on his door, McNicholas quickly realized his neighbor was trapped inside the burning house. Without hesitation, he ran toward the flames, entering through the back of the home as fire spread through the front room. Inside, he located his neighbor on the floor and pulled him to safety just moments before emergency crews arrived. McNicholas credits instinct and his training for guiding his actions, saying he simply went into “work mode.” His courage and quick thinking saved a life and reflects the deep sense of community and neighborly responsibility that defines Chicago’s South Side.   

Chong Hsieh of Tzu Chi in Chicago is the Disaster Relief Hero: Chong Hsieh has served as the Executive Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Midwest Region for more than 30 years, helping lead the organization’s humanitarian work across Illinois and beyond. Founded in Taiwan, Tzu Chi is a global nonprofit dedicated to compassion and relief, with a presence in 136 countries and more than 60 offices across the United States. Under Chong’s leadership, the Midwest region has provided critical support to communities facing crisis through disaster relief, medical services, charity, and youth education. Tzu Chi volunteers regularly assist families affected by disasters by providing financial assistance, food, clothing, and warm blankets offering immediate relief and long-term support to help communities recover and rebuild.   

Yvette Jones-Swanson of Frankfort is the Military Hero: Yvette Jones-Swanson, M.A., MRP, an Army veteran and founder of VetMentors, has spent more than 25 years helping people who have served in the military secure stable housing. Having experienced homelessness herself, Jones-Swanson has dedicated her life to expanding housing solutions nationwide, helping more than 5,000 veterans experiencing homelessness find a place to call home. Through education, advocacy, and partnerships with landlords and programs like the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, Jones-Swanson works tirelessly to ensure veterans have access to safe housing and a path toward long-term stability.    

2025 Heritage Award  
In addition to the exemplary 2026 Class of Heroes, the Red Cross of Illinois presents the prestigious Heritage Award, annually as part of its Heroes Breakfast event.

The Heritage Award recognizes the consummate spirit of heroism and humanitarianism at a distinguished level. It acknowledges the demonstration of long-term commitment to improvement of the lives of others through actions, deeds, and philanthropic works in the corporate and civic communities. 

The Red Cross is proud to bestow the Malott Family Foundation with the 2026 Heritage Award.  Founded in 1988, the foundation honored the philanthropic work of Robert and Elizabeth Malott, with an emphasis on K-12 education and the arts, primarily in Chicago. In particular, the Malotts have been longtime supporters of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Lincoln Park Zoo, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the Lyric Opera, among others. The Foundation’s focus has expanded to include support in the areas of early childhood education, worldwide disaster relief and the domestic disaster-related climate resiliency efforts of the American Red Cross and working to preserve the nation’s parks and monuments through support of the National Park Foundation. 

Thank you to the generous sponsors of the 2026 Illinois Red Cross Heroes Breakfast event, including:  Presenting Sponsor:  BMO U.S; Champion Sponsors: CSX Transportation, Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Mission Leader: State Farm®; Inspiring Action Sponsors: Edwardson Family Foundation, Patrick M. and Jennifer Gallagher, Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan, The Sauer Family Foundation; Hero Sponsors: Aon, CNA Insurance, ComEd, Fresenius Kabi, ITW, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Nicor Gas, Northern Trust, UL Solutions, United Airlines, Wintrust; Media Sponsor: CBS News Chicago     

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 or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.   

###