CHICAGO, IL (Dec. 12, 2017) — Members of Chicago and northern Illinois communities have 30 days left to nominate candidates for the 2018 American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast. Nominations are due January 12, 2018 for 11 categories including good Samaritans, outstanding nurses, global citizens, military and law enforcement standouts. To nominate a hero, fill out the online nomination form.
Every year the event honors local community members who have demonstrated heroism through extraordinary acts of courage or kindness or in some way have exemplified the Red Cross mission to help people in need.
The heroic act must have taken place during the 2017 calendar year. Candidates must also live or work in the Illinois counties of Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago.
Honorees will be recognized at the 16th annual American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave, in downtown Chicago.
Nominations are being accepted in the following 11 categories:
· Blood Services: an individual(s) or organization who promotes community blood donation awareness and helped to build the community blood supply;
· Community Impact: an individual(s) who displays leadership and commitment to his or her community by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact in society;
· Disaster Services: an individual(s) who exhibited heroic efforts in response to a natural disaster or emergency situation, providing relief to victims through financial or voluntary assistance;
· Emergency Medical Assistance: an individual(s) who, during a time of crisis, provided medical assistance including CPR and/or first aid to a person or people in need;
· Firefighter: a professional or volunteer firefighter(s) who acted above and beyond the call of duty, exhibiting heroism either in response to an emergency situation or through an ongoing commitment to the community;
· Global Citizenship: an individual(s) who showed concern and worked to meet the needs of the world’s potentially vulnerable populations by providing needed relief, whether locally, nationally, and/or internationally;
· Good Samaritan: an individual(s) who courageously and selflessly responded to a significant or unexpected crisis;
· Law Enforcement: a professional police officer(s) or related law enforcement official(s) who exhibited heroism either in response to an emergency situation or through an ongoing commitment to the community;
· Military: an active, reserve, ROTC, retired member(s) of the Armed Forces, or a military supporter, who acted above and beyond the call of duty;
· Nurse: a licensed and practicing nurse, nursing student, or retired nurse who exhibited heroism either in their response to an emergency situation or through an ongoing commitment to the community;
· Youth: an individual(s) who courageously and selflessly responded to a significant or unexpected crisis.
Videos featuring last year’s local Red Cross heroes can be viewed on our You Tube Channel.
The 2018 Heroes Breakfast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our Signature Presenting Sponsor, ITW and our Presenting sponsors: William Blair, Kirkland & Ellis and United Airlines.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. 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/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.
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