
The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago would like to invite you to nominate someone you know who has acted with bravery, dedication and service for the benefit of their community.
Selected Heroes will be honored at our Heroes Breakfast in 2024.
Candidates are honored in 12 categories. See descriptions here.
Candidates must live or work in the following Illinois counties:
Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lake, McHenry, or Will.
Heroic act must have occurred within the 2023 calendar year or be ongoing.
For the past 21 years, at our annual Heroes Breakfast, the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago has honored individuals and groups for acts of immense bravery, dedication and service to the community. Incredible heroes walk among us delivering kindness and making a difference every day. We invite you to join us in celebrating the 2023 outstanding Class of Heroes!
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 2023 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.
Tom Wilson has been CEO of Allstate since 2007 and Chair of the Board of Directors since 2008. He is a public advocate for business playing a broad role in society through initiatives such as providing living wages and improving diversity and equity.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce enhanced sustainability under Wilson’s leadership by clarifying its purpose and embracing bipartisanship. He currently chairs the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and holds leadership positions in the financial services industry and the community.
Wilson has led Allstate through the global financial crisis and increased severe weather due to climate change. He is now leading an innovative multi-year Transformative Growth strategy at the company.
Ed Wehmer, Wintrust’s CEO and Founder, is responsible for overseeing the execution of the day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives of the organization. He is the only member of the Board who is also a manager of the Company. As such, he provides views of Company management and substantial insight into Company operations, as well as historical context for the Board’s discussions.
Ed serves on several boards in the area, including Northwestern Memorial Foundation and the Archdiocese of Chicago. He and his wife, Dorothy, are involved in many charitable organizations in the Chicagoland area.