Each year, the American Red Cross of Illinois honors individuals and groups for acts of great bravery, dedication and service to the community at our Heroes Event in the Spring. There are Heroes among us making a difference each day, even during difficult times. Join us in celebrating them!
The 2022 Red Cross Class of Heroes are being recognized in the following categories:
Blood Services Hero | Community Impact Hero | Disaster Relief Hero
Education Hero | Firefighter Hero
Global Citizenship Hero | Healthcare Hero | Law Enforcement Hero
Lifesaving Rescue Hero | Military Hero | Social Justice Impact Hero | Youth Hero
In addition to recognizing the exemplary 2022 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.
Dr. Gayle has been president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations, since October 2017. Under her leadership, the Trust has adopted a new strategic focus on closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region.
Trained as a pediatrician, Dr. Gayle’s career has spanned public health and global development fields. For almost a decade, Dr. Gayle was president and CEO of CARE, a leading international humanitarian organization. An expert on global development, humanitarian and health issues, she spent 20 years with the Centers for Disease Control, working primarily on HIV/AIDS. She worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, directing programs on HIV/AIDS and other global health issues.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Dr. Gayle earned a B.A. at Barnard College, M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.P.H. at Johns Hopkins University.
Dan Ryan is the Central Region Market Director for JLL. Dan has overall responsibility for JLL’s team and services across the Central U.S., including Brokerage (Office, Industrial, Retail), Property Management, Project and Development Services and Valuations. Dan is accountable for the firm’s operations and business results in the Central Region, as well as developing and implementing strategic initiatives. He also maintains and develops key client relationships with owners and occupiers of real estate.
Dan is a Board Member of the Chicago Executives’ Club, World Business Chicago, and a member of the Chicago Economic Club. Dan also serves on the alumni board of directors of the Cara Program and in 2010, received the Spirit of Life Award from the Chicago Construction and Real Estate Council of City of Hope.
Dan received his B.S. in Finance from Miami University (Oxford, OH) and earned an M.B.A from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
