The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago proudly announces the 2026 Class of Heroes to be honored at the annual Red Cross Heroes Breakfast, celebrating individuals whose courage and compassion have helped build stronger, safer communities across Chicagoland. This year’s event embraces the theme “Be Courageous,” recognizing everyday people who stepped forward in extraordinary ways to help others when it mattered most.

The Heroes Breakfast was established to raise public awareness of local heroes who exemplify the values of the Red Cross. Since 2002, the organization has recognized more than 200 remarkable individuals whose selfless actions have saved lives, strengthened communities, and provided hope in times of crisis.

This year, the Red Cross will honor its 24th Class of Heroes at the annual breakfast, which will welcome hundreds of guests from across the region. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Hilton Chicago. Over the past 24 years, the Heroes Breakfast has raised millions of dollars to support the lifesaving humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross.

“Each year, the Heroes Breakfast reminds us that courage lives in our communities,” said Kellie O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois. “The individuals we honor represent what it means to Be Courageous, stepping forward to serve others, save lives, and bring hope during someone’s darkest moments. It is an honor to share their inspiring stories and celebrate the extraordinary impact they make.”

The Red Cross of Greater Chicago is honored to recognize Darrel Hackett, CEO of BMO U.S., as the Honorary Chair of the 24th Annual Red Cross Heroes Breakfast. A respected leader and advocate for community impact, Hackett’s commitment to service reflects the spirit of this year’s theme and helps elevate the inspiring stories of the local heroes being recognized.

Proceeds from the event support the Red Cross mission to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies across the Illinois region. To learn more or reserve your seat, visit redcross.org/heroesbreakfast.

The 2026 Class of Heroes

The 2026 Class of Heroes will be recognized across twelve categories and selected by an independent committee of business and civic leaders. The Red Cross pays tribute to these inspiring individuals through their remarkable stories, which will be highlighted during the event.

Suzanne Hammer of Woodridge is the Blood Services Hero: Suzanne Hammer has dedicated more than five decades to helping save lives through her passionate leadership of blood drives. As the Blood Program Leader at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Hammer coordinates 12 blood drives each year in partnership with the American Red Cross and hospital staff. Known for her creativity and enthusiasm, from themed décor to thoughtful outreach and community partnerships, her efforts help inspire donors and collect nearly 600 units of lifesaving blood annually. Hammer’s work is a powerful example of how dedication, creativity, and personal connection can make a lasting impact.

Dr. LaMenta Conway of Flossmoor is the Education Hero: LaMenta Conway, M.D., MPH, is the founder of the I Am Abel Foundation, an organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders. Through its flagship Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Program, the I Am Abel Foundation identifies and nurtures the talents of inner-city youth by providing hands-on exposure to the medical field, academic support, and long-term mentorship. Since its founding, the I Am Abel Foundation has supported more than 500 scholars, helping open pathways to careers in medicine and strengthening the future of healthcare in underserved communities.

Loné Williams of Chicago is the Community Impact Hero: of domestic violence. After losing her mother to domestic violence in 2023, Williams founded Love & Protect Wisdom (LPW), an organization dedicated to healing, awareness, and prevention. Through LPW, Williams provides survivors with critical resources including free therapy, legal advocacy, emergency care kits, transportation to court, and financial assistance for temporary housing. In addition to direct services, LPW engages young people through educational workshops that promote healthy relationships and violence prevention. Her commitment to transforming pain into purpose is helping survivors find safety, support, and hope for the future.

Ashley Huizar of Huntley is the Healthcare Hero: Five nurses from Advocate Sherman Hospital were traveling to a conference in Iowa when they came upon a serious crash at a rural intersection. Ashley Huizar, BSN, RN, TNS, ECRN, CEN, discovered a woman in critical condition inside a locked vehicle. With help from bystanders, they broke the car window, extracted the woman from the vehicle and Huizar immediately began CPR, continuing lifesaving care until paramedics arrived. The nurses later reflected on the experience as a powerful reminder of their calling, grateful that a change in their route placed them in the right place at the right time to help save a life.

Cayla Boehm and Maelyn Garcia of Highland Park are the Youth Heroes: Cayla Boehm and Maelyn Garcia, youth leaders with, have spent more than three years mobilizing hundreds of young volunteers to address food insecurity and support communities in crisis. Serving on SaLT’s student leadership team, Boehm and Garcia dedicate dozens of hours each month coordinating programs that provide weekly grocery deliveries to families across northern Illinois, offer free tutoring to younger students, and distribute care packages to communities affected by disasters nationwide. In 2025, the pair helped launch the “Take Care” initiative, which sends self-care packages and handwritten notes of encouragement to people facing hardship, from disaster survivors to first responders. Their leadership has helped SaLT impact thousands of lives while strengthening community partnerships and inspiring other young people to serve.

Damon Lamar Reed and Nicole Reed of Chicago are the Social Justice Impact Heroes: Damon Lamar Reed and Nicole Reed are the co-founders of the Still Searching Project, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about underrepresented missing women and girls from the Chicagoland area. Through powerful art, murals, and community engagement, the project honors those who are missing while supporting their families and keeping their stories visible. To date, the Reeds have completed over 30 pieces, using art as a bridge between families, communities, and investigative authorities, while advocating public safety and amplifying the voices of those who might otherwise go unheard.

Marco Lomibao of Glendale Heights and Dennis Stachura of Plainfield are the Law Enforcement Heroes: On December 14, 2025, Glendale Heights Police Officers Dennis Stachura and Marco Lomibao rescued three people after their vehicle broke through the ice of a local pond in freezing temperatures. With no other officers immediately available, they rushed to the scene and discovered the victims stranded 20 to 30 feet from shore. Without hesitation, the officers moved onto unstable ice to reach them. Officer Lomibao crawled across the ice and pulled two victims to safety, but when the ice gave way and he fell into the water, Officer Stachura quickly used a mop to stabilize the situation and help pull Lomibao and the third victim to shore. Thanks to their swift action, courage, and teamwork, all three individuals were safely rescued before additional help arrived.

Keztly Angel of Forest Park is the Lifesaving Rescue Hero: On a quiet evening in September 2025, Loyola University Medical Center cashier Keztly Angel noticed emergency room physician Dr. Joan Dimopoulos suddenly choking in the hospital cafeteria. As others froze, Angel quickly jumped from behind the counter and performed abdominal thrusts, dislodging the food and restoring the doctor’s breathing. Her calm, quick action turned a frightening moment into a lifesaving one.

Rima Ziuraitis of Naperville is the Global Citizenship Hero: Rima Ziuraitis has dedicated significant time to humanitarian efforts connected to the conflict in Ukraine. After years of advocacy and volunteer work, Ziuraitis left her career in corporate finance and traveled to Ukraine, where she trained in tactical medicine and began teaching basic lifesaving medical skills. In 2025, she joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a combat medic, supporting medical teams at stabilization stations that treat wounded civilians and military personnel. Inspired by her Lithuanian heritage, she says she felt called to serve where her skills were most needed. Through her work, Ziuraitis demonstrates a strong commitment to humanitarian service and the impact individuals can make in supporting others during times of crisis.

Kevin McNicholas of Chicago is the Firefighter Hero: Off-duty Chicago firefighter/EMT Kevin McNicholas sprang into action on the night of November 2, 2025, when a fire broke out at a neighbor’s home in the Beverly neighborhood. Awakened by a knock on his door, McNicholas quickly realized his neighbor was trapped inside the burning house. Without hesitation, he ran toward the flames, entering through the back of the home as fire spread through the front room. Inside, he located his neighbor on the floor and pulled him to safety just moments before emergency crews arrived. McNicholas credits instinct and his training for guiding his actions, saying he simply went into “work mode.” His courage and quick thinking saved a life and reflects the deep sense of community and neighborly responsibility that defines Chicago’s South Side.

Chong Hsieh of Tzu Chi in Chicago is the Disaster Relief Hero: Chong Hsieh has served as the Executive Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Midwest Region for more than 30 years, helping lead the organization’s humanitarian work across Illinois and beyond. Founded in Taiwan, Tzu Chi is a global nonprofit dedicated to compassion and relief, with a presence in 136 countries and more than 60 offices across the United States. Under Chong’s leadership, the Midwest region has provided critical support to communities facing crisis through disaster relief, medical services, charity, and youth education. Tzu Chi volunteers regularly assist families affected by disasters by providing financial assistance, food, clothing, and warm blankets offering immediate relief and long-term support to help communities recover and rebuild.

Yvette Jones-Swanson of Frankfort is the Military Hero: Yvette Jones-Swanson, M.A., MRP, an Army veteran and founder of VetMentors, has spent more than 25 years helping people who have served in the military secure stable housing. Having experienced homelessness herself, Jones-Swanson has dedicated her life to expanding housing solutions nationwide, helping more than 5,000 veterans experiencing homelessness find a place to call home. Through education, advocacy, and partnerships with landlords and programs like the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, Jones-Swanson works tirelessly to ensure veterans have access to safe housing and a path toward long-term stability.

2026 Heritage Award
In addition to honoring the exemplary 2026 Class of Heroes, the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago will present its prestigious 2026 Heritage Award to the Malott Family Foundation during the annual Heroes Breakfast.

The Heritage Award is presented each year to a civic leader or organization whose actions exemplify the highest spirit of heroism and humanitarianism and demonstrate a sustained commitment to improving the lives of others. Recipients of this award reflect the Red Cross mission to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies through compassion, leadership, and service.

Founded in 1988, the Malott Family Foundation honors the philanthropic legacy of Robert and Elizabeth Malott. The foundation’s giving has long focused on K–12 education and the arts, primarily within the Chicago metropolitan area, while also supporting conservation, preservation, and environmental education initiatives.

The Malott family has been a longtime supporter of institutions such as the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Lincoln Park Zoo, reflecting a deep commitment to education, culture, and environmental stewardship.

Accepting the award on behalf of the foundation is Barbara Malott Kizziah, who continues the Malott family’s tradition of civic leadership and service. Kizziah serves on the American Red Cross Climate Task Force and is a board member of the Lincoln Park Zoo, The Chicago Public Education Fund, and the Guild Board of the Chicago Botanic Garden. She was also the founding president of the Auxiliary Board at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Through decades of thoughtful, values-driven philanthropy, the Malott Family Foundation has strengthened communities, expanded access to education and the arts, and advanced environmental stewardship, embodying the spirit of humanitarianism that the Heritage Award was created to honor.

Thank you to the generous sponsors of the 2026 Illinois Red Cross Heroes Breakfast event, including:

Presenting Sponsor: BMO U.S; Champion Sponsor: Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Mission Leader: State Farm^®; Inspiring Action Sponsors: Edwardson Family Foundation, Patrick M. and Jennifer Gallagher, The Sauer Family Foundation; Hero Sponsors: Aon, ComEd, Fresenius Kabi, ITW, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Nicor Gas, Northern Trust, UL Solutions, United Airlines, Wintrust; Media Sponsor: CBS News Chicago

VISUALS: Red Cross Heroes headshots may be accessed here: 2026 Red Cross Class of Heroes.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

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