CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 1, 2017) — The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois is accepting nominations to honor the heroes walking among us at its annual Heroes Breakfast in spring 2018. Every year the event honors local community members who have demonstrated heroism through extraordinary acts of courage or kindness. To nominate a hero, fill out the online nomination form. Nominations are due Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.

“This is our chance to recognize some of the amazing people right here in our communities who’ve made a significant, positive difference through emergency response, disaster preparedness or have demonstrated the Red Cross mission to help others in need,” said Celena Roldán, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois. “If you know someone who has saved a life, made our community a safer place, or gone above and beyond to help someone, we want to hear their story.”

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 16^th 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 Hero

• The eligible nominee can be an individual(s) or organization that is involved in activity that creates awareness of the importance of blood donation in the community and/or helps to ensure a sufficient and safe blood supply is available to patients.

Community Impact Hero

• The nominee has displayed leadership and commitment to community by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact in our community.
• The nominee has identified a community need and created a program or service or otherwise took action to address that need.

Disaster Services Hero

• The nominee 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 situation in which a commitment is made to a community that experienced a disaster through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.
• The eligible nominee must be from the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois area, but could have been deployed elsewhere to assist individuals in need.

Emergency Medical Assistance Hero

• The nominee is an individual who has exhibited heroic efforts as a paramedic or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) representative providing lifesaving assistance in an emergency situation.

Firefighter Hero

• The nominee is a professional, reserve or volunteer firefighter or medical personnel related to dispatch operations of a fire department.
• The eligible nominee could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the incident. The situation does not have to be associated with the use of skills directly related to his/her profession.
• 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.

Global Citizenship Hero

• The nominee has volunteered or worked to meet the needs of the world’s potentially vulnerable populations by building safer, more resilient communities and providing needed relief.
• The eligible nominee must be from the Northern Illinois & Chicago region and their work impacts and assists local, national or international individuals in need.

Good Samaritan Hero

• The eligible nominee is 18 years and older and 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.

Law Enforcement Hero

• The nominee is a professional police officer or related law enforcement official.
• The eligible nominee could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the incident. The situation does not have to be associated with the use of skills directly related to their profession.
• The nominee either exhibited heroism in his/her 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.

Military Hero

• The nominee is an active or retired military service member, a member of the military reserves or a member of the military reserve training corps or a military supporter.
• The eligible nominee could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the incident. The situation does not have to be associated with the use of skills directly related to their profession.
• 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.

Nurse Hero

• The nominee is a licensed and practicing nurse, nursing student or retired nurse.
• The eligible nominee could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the incident. The situation does not have to be associated with the use of skills directly related to his/her profession.
• 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.

Youth Hero

• The nominee must be 17 years old and under at the time of the incident or act.
• The eligible nominee 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 can be 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.

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 Presenting sponsors: William Blair, ITW, 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.

###