The nominee can be an individual(s) or an organization that is involved in activity that creates awareness of the importance of blood donation in the community, helps to ensure a sufficient and safe blood supply is available to those in need, and/or acts as an activist for the blood community at large.

The nominee(s)  has displayed leadership and commitment to community by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact through their efforts. The nominee has identified a community need and created a program or service or took action to address that need. 

The nominee(s) is an individual who has exhibited heroic efforts in any or all of the areas of disaster services, including preparedness, response or recovery during a natural disaster or emergency situation through mission-driven response assistance to people in need. The nominee has exhibited heroism in response to an emergency situation or is involved in an ongoing commitment to a community that experienced a disaster through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.

The nominee(s) has displayed leadership and commitment to their community by making a positive and significant impact, and through their efforts has exhibited heroic efforts to increase access to education during COVID-19. This nominee(s) could be, but not limited to, a practicing teacher, school administrator, day care provider or student organization.

The nominee(s) is a professional, reserve or volunteer firefighter, or medical personnel related to the dispatch operations of a fire department. The nominee could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the incident. The nominee either exhibited heroism in their response to an emergency situation or the nominee is involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need. 

The nominee(s) has volunteered or worked to address the needs of the world’s vulnerable and unjustly treated populations by building safer, more resilient communities and providing needed relief. The eligible nominee must be live and work in an eligible Illinois county (see above), but may have conducted their service locally, nationally and/or internationally to assist the individuals in need.

The nominee(s) is a professional police officer or related law enforcement official. The nominee could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the incident. The nominee either exhibited heroism in their response to an emergency situation or the nominee is involved in an ongoing situation in which a commitment is made to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need. 

The nominee(s) has performed an act of heroism involving an unusual, significant or unexpected incident requiring a courageous or unselfish reaction in a time of need that ultimately was resolved in the saving of another person's life.

The nominee(s) is a U.S. service member (active, reserve, and guard), veteran, or military supporter. The eligible nominee(s) could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the heroic event. The nominee either exhibited heroism in their response to an emergency situation or the nominee is involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.

The nominee(s) has displayed leadership and commitment to their/our community by recognizing a need, making a positive and significant impact through their efforts to propel social change. The nominee values human rights and the dignity of all.

The nominee(s) must be 17 years old or under at the time of the incident or act. The eligible nominee(s) has performed an act of heroism involving an unusual, significant or unexpected incident requiring a courageous or unselfish reaction in a crisis or time of need. The nominee(s) can be involved in an on-going commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.