Thank you for joining us for the Real Heroes Celebration. We are truly grateful for your support.
This event honored the powerful ideal that one person’s selfless act can change a life. Because of supporters like you, the American Red Cross continues to provide comfort and relief to those affected by disaster and helps communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
At the Real Heroes Celebration, we recognized individuals throughout Central and Northern New York who demonstrated extraordinary courage, compassion, and dedication through their acts of heroism or volunteerism. Your participation helped shine a well-deserved spotlight on these remarkable individuals and the spirit of humanitarianism they represent.
Your generosity makes a meaningful difference to thousands of our neighbors who rely on Red Cross emergency services, preparedness education, and health and safety programs.
Thank you again for helping us honor our community’s heroes and for supporting the mission of the American Red Cross. If you attended the event, we hope your experience was both inspiring and memorable.
As we look ahead to next year’s celebration, we invite you to help us identify the next group of extraordinary individuals who embody these values. If you know someone whose actions have made a meaningful impact in their community, please submit a nomination using the form below.
Do you know someone who has saved a life through extraordinary action or preparedness or who has made a meaningful impact in the community this year?
Now is your chance to honor them.
The Central and Northern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking nominations for our annual Real Heroes Celebration event, to be held November 2026 in Syracuse, NY.
Nomination Guidelines:
American Red Cross, ATTN Real Heroes, 33 Everett Road Albany, NY 12205
Scan and email to Development.ENY@redcross.org
Or submit your nominee with our online form HERE
For questions about your nomination, please email Development.ENY@redcross.org.
Community Impact Hero Award
An individual, group, or organization that 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.
Red Cross Mission: Blood Services Hero
An individual, group, or organization involved in activities that create 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.
Red Cross Mission: Disaster Services Hero
An individual, group, or organization who has exhibited heroic efforts to assist others in need in any or all the areas of disaster services, including preparedness, response, or recovery during a disaster or emergency, or responded to the needs of a community that experienced a disaster or emergency through acts of kindness, courage, or selflessness.
Red Cross Mission: Military Hero
An individual or group of U.S. service member(s) (active, reserve, and guard), veteran(s), military supporter(s), or an organization that serves the military, that has exhibited heroic efforts in response to an emergency or is/was involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through acts of kindness, courage, or selflessness in response to an identified need. Nominees could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the heroic act, which need not be associated with the use of skills directly related to their profession or training.
Red Cross Mission: Emergency Services Hero
A fire fighter, law enforcement professional, paramedic, emergency medical services (EMS) representative, or other medical professional that has exhibited heroic efforts, acting above and beyond the call of duty, to save the life of another or prevent serious injury, or is/was involved in an ongoing commitment to their community through acts of kindness, courage, or selflessness in response to an identified need.
Red Cross Mission: Adult Good Samaritan Hero
An individual or group (age 18+) that has exhibited heroic efforts and that has used life-saving skills (i.e. lifeguard, CPR, or first aid training) to save the life of another or prevent serious injury, or is/was involved in an ongoing commitment to their community through acts of kindness, courage, or selflessness in response to an identified need.
Red Cross Mission: Youth Good Samaritan Hero
An individual or group (under age 18) that has exhibited heroic efforts and that has used life-saving skills (i.e. lifeguard, CPR, or first aid training) to save the life of another or prevent serious injury, or is/was involved in an ongoing commitment to their community through acts of kindness, courage, or selflessness in response to an identified need.
Thank you for your interest in supporting our Real Heroes Celebration! For details on sponsorship opportunities and benefits, Honorary Committee and ticket options, please click the button below. Please reach out to Development.ENY@redcross.org with any questions.