The American Red Cross of Illinois is proud and honored to celebrate South & West Central Illinois Volunteer, Scott Clarke of Springfield, for receiving the Red Cross Presidential Award for Excellence in Humanitarian Services at the 2026 American Red Cross National Awards Dinner, held in April in Washington D.C.

As a dedicated humanitarian, who was also recently honored for 50 years of services to the American Red Cross, Scott has been a reliable leader behind some of our most critical efforts, contributing to nearly 60 disaster responses, overseeing operations across all five Illinois Region chapters and deepening partnerships with government and emergency management officials to ensure families receive the support they need, when it’s needed most.

“The work that Scott does for the American Red Cross is truly amazing,” said Kellie O’Connell, CEO for the Illinois Red Cross. “When I first connected with him, he was such a wealth of knowledge, and you could see the compassion for our communities and the passion for our mission pouring out of him. I’m so honored to work alongside him.”

Scott also continues to strengthen the Red Cross’s future by mentoring interns and volunteers, building the next generation of humanitarian leaders, and advocating for policies that expand our ability to serve including recent legislation that allows health and mental health professionals to respond more quickly during disasters.

“When you think of someone who has given 50 years of his time, efforts and wisdom to our mission; that alone speaks volumes,” said Dawn Morris, Executive Director of the South & West Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross. “The profound impact that he brings is incredible and there are truly no words for what he brings to the mission.”

Through every deployment, meeting and mentoring moment, Scott consistently leads with calm, compassion and an unwavering commitment to service. His dedication has not only strengthened the communities we serve, but it’s also inspired growth, shaped how we respond to local disasters and brought hope to countless families over his 50 years of service.

“You might not hear his name right at the beginning of what we do, but you know that Scott is always planting seeds and putting the mission and the people that we serve first,” Morris said. “The amount of time and efforts, being a volunteer, that he has given to this mission every single day is truly irreplaceable.”

The American Red Cross of Illinois congratulates and honors Scott for receiving the Red Cross Presidential Award for Excellence in Humanitarian Services and for his 50 years of dedication to the Red Cross Mission.

About the American Red Cross of Illinois:

The American Red Cross of Illinois serves 12.4 million people in 88 counties. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at Redcross.org/Illinois or visit us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RedCrossIL.