In My Father’s Kitchen and HouseCalls for the Homeless (Syracuse)

Through the combined efforts of the nonprofit group In My Father’s Kitchen (Executive Director, John Tumino) and SUNY Upstate Medical University’s HouseCalls for the Homeless program (founding member, Dr. David Lehmann), this group goes out into the community twice a week to meet the medical and nutritional needs of members of the homeless population in Syracuse.The impact of this care has been to continue to support many who, for a variety of reasons, do not participate in other medical services or sheltering.

Thomas and Kathie DeLitta (Liverpool)

Thomas DeLitta and his late wife, Kathie DeLitta, have been passionate supporters of the American Red Cross mission and Biomedical Services. Tom has been serving as a Blood Donor Ambassador since 2005, supporting community blood drives, as well the Liverpool Blood Donation Center. Tom and Kathie were a huge help to staff and donors the blood drive, by ensuring blood donors had a warm welcome and were well taken care of during the registration process and while in canteen.

As an integral part of the Red Cross team and beloved volunteers, Tom and Kathie helped blood donors, staff, and help to raise awareness about the Red Cross mission and the need for lifesaving blood donations.

Find a blood drive near you and schedule an appointment: redcrossblood.org

Become a Volunteer: redcross.org/volunteer

Gennady Bratslavsky, MD (Syracuse)

Gennady Bratslavsky and his friend, Alex Golubenko of NYC, are on a mission to help the people of war-torn Ukraine. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Bratslavsky immigrated to the U.S. 30 years ago. He’s currently a surgeon and chair of the Department of Urology at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.

The organization, Help Free Ukraine, was founded by Bratslavsky and Golubenko. During one of their trips, Bratslavsky met Golubenko halfway between Syracuse and New York City in Albany to send the first shipment of medications to Ukraine. The medications were donated by several Central New York hospitals, including Crouse Health, Upstate Medical University and Mohawk Valley Health System.

They also partnered with World of Connections and, with help from other non-profits, they were able to deliver 144,000 lbs. of medications to Ukraine. Bratslavsky’s wife, Katya has also been able to raise more than $250,000 through her paintings to help those in Ukraine.

SSG Joshua Hayes (retired) and SPC Jacob Lundemo (Fort Drum)

SPC. Jacob Lundemo and SSG Joshua Hayes, who were stationed at Fort Drum, were at a diner in the St. Lawrence County community of Fowler when a petroleum truck exploded nearby.

The two soldiers helped evacuate the diner and then ran towards the fueling station. The truck was on fire and a man was lying underneath.

The soldiers, along with an employee and a passerby, carried the victim to a safe location and provided medical service until an ambulance arrived.

Seth Labarge (Watertown)

American Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteer Supervisor Seth Labarge saved a woman’s life using Hands-Only CPR, a skilled he learned just a few months earlier from the Red Cross.

Seth was outside a local coffee shop chatting with a few people when a man rushed over to the group and said a woman had collapsed. They ran to the scene and determined that she was not breathing and was unresponsive. Seth called 911, and then handed his phone to a friend to continue the conversation with the dispatcher. He started Hands-Only CPR and continued doing so until emergency services arrived.

Hands-only CPR is easy to learn and increases the likelihood of surviving cardiac arrest.

Learn more: redcross.org/take-a-class

Katrina Hutz (Manlius)

Katrina Hutz, a leukemia survivor, has led an extraordinary team of cancer survivors raising funds and awareness to help children and their families fighting pediatric cancer at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. Through a variety of initiatives, they have raised more than $50,000, setting a new record for the organization.

Katrina held a "Katrina Strong" t-shirt drive to help raise funds for the mission. Katrina was also the face of two blood drives: one at Upstate University Hospital and the other at her gymnastics studio, helping to obtain over 60 units. She went on to host her own drive Fayetteville-Manlius High School where 55 units were obtained. Then, she organized Team Katrina for Paige's Butterfly Run, which provides services to pediatric cancer patients and their families, as well as supporting cancer research. In addition to these acts of kindness that she took on in short order after diagnosis, during the holidays, Katrina organized her friends to create messages of inspiration and hope to be delivered to the patients at the Waters Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital.

Burn Foundation of CNY (Syracuse)

The volunteer-based organization is committed to burn support, awareness, and prevention that serves Central New York, Northern New York, the Capital District and the Southern Tier.

Jim Ennis is Chairman of the Board for the Burn Foundation of Central New York. The projects sponsored by the Burn Foundation are directly helping burn survivors treated at local hospitals purchase durable equipment as well as paying for services not covered by their insurance.

The annual Burn Run was developed by the East Syracuse Fire Department and organized by a dedicated committee of firefighters and other volunteers. The race includes a 5K and 10K nationally certified race, as well as a kids’ fun run. Proceeds support the Burn Foundation. The primary function of the fund is paying for children with burn injuries to attend Burn Camp where they have an opportunity to interact with other adolescents that have suffered through similar injuries and to receive emotional and physical support.