The American Red Cross in Greater New York’s Disaster Workforce Engagement (DWE) Team recently celebrated seventeen incredible volunteers at a Fall Harvest Volunteer Social. These amazing Red Crossers have demonstrated unwavering dedication and support throughout the year in three different sets of criteria.
Below are our fall volunteer award winners in the words of the people who nominated them.
Community Collaborator
Criteria: This award is being given to those volunteers whose dedication to the mission has cultivated or improved community partnerships with the American Red Cross in Greater New York.
Robert Bernstein, External Relations: Robert volunteers with the Red Cross in various roles including Disaster Workforce Engagement, Community Relations, Public Relations, International Services/Service to the Armed Forces, and Volunteer Services to name a few, and he volunteers in a grey sky disaster response role as a Community Engagement Partnership (CEP) associate where he demonstrates collaboration with the community and brings the resources and message of Red Cross to community members.
Joseph Favuzzi, Mass Care: Thanks to Joseph, we have reached out to so many of our existing vendors to renew their relationships with the Red Cross, as well as adding new culturally competent vendors to our list. Joe also exemplifies Semper Gumby - he'll be wherever he's needed!
Madelyn Miller, Disaster Mental Health: Madelyn has a busy and thriving private practice in addition to her volunteer work with Disaster Mental Health (DMH). Her latest venture is working with other volunteers to reach out to the National Association of Social Workers to further the reach of DMH to recruit new Red Cross volunteers for DMH.
Mentorship Marvel
Criteria: This award is being given to those volunteers who are gifted at leading the way in mission delivery by training and leading their fellow volunteers.
Lisa Buckley, Home Fire Campaign: Lisa is a quick learner, and has led teams on field operations recently. She is highly regarded by her peers and works well with others. She has recently been promoted to Team Lead as a result.
Phil Cogan, Emergency Communications Center: Phil is an integral part of Disaster Cycle Services as the volunteer partner to the Deputy Regional Disaster Officer, Disaster Action Team supervisor, Emergency Communications Center Duty Officer/Dispatcher, and RC Respond Application Lead (RAST). He is truly a caring and compassionate individual, and we are fortunate to have his level of dedication and expert professionalism at the Red Cross.
Eileen Dwyer, Disaster Mental Health: Eileen leads the onboarding team for NYC Disaster Mental Health. She works very closely with new volunteers as they progress through the training and initial Red Cross expectations. Her personal approach to helping all of the new volunteers helps to make them feel a part of the group and leads to better commitment.
Mark Rosen, Recovery Client Care: Mark is so amazing and a great mentor. He really is taking our staff and new volunteers and ensures we have a great collaboration environment and is always empowering all members of the Recovery team. He constantly also takes new volunteers and ensures they are comfortable and are feeling good about their volunteer experience.
Jerry Rothstein, Disaster Action Team: Jerry has been a legacy / veteran team member who has been a Disaster Action Team (DAT) Supervisor and Field Trainer. Jerry has supported the growth of many of our team members. He has also supported the growth of the DAT program by being part of the team who help create the DAT manual & the NYC DAT field modules.
Spirit of Service Award
Criteria: These volunteers exemplify the inspiring humanitarian spirit of the GNY American Red Cross in all that they do.
Abigail Casarez, Disaster Action Team: Abigail is our Rockstar on the Disaster Action Team (DAT) overnight shift she is committed to multiple overnight shifts per month. That is when she is not deploying to national Disaster Response Operations and supporting our mission. Abigail is a brilliant member of our team who exemplifies our mission in her actions every shift.
Sue Cavanagh, Disaster Health Services: Sue is always looking to deploy. She loves being involved and is a happy positive person to be around. She’s all about what the Red Cross embodies.
Kay Denmark, Logistics: We are nominating Kay for all her years of merit and his willingness to help. Kay always supports by keeping ready all the resources that will be used during blue sky and gray sky.
Audrey Fields, Recovery Client Care: Audrey is constantly in our recovery teams and hardly ever misses her recovery shifts. Every week Audrey helps up to three families in our region, ensuring that they receive all the services from the Red Cross as well as partner organization resources. Audrey is truly an amazing humanitarian, and we are so glad to have her.
Shannon Green, Disaster Mental Health: Shannon is an integral part of Disaster Mental Health and our Chapter Links team. She calls deployed volunteers to ease them back into their lives upon returning and is now deployed herself to Maui and is very interested in deploying as often as her life will allow. Shannon is a warm and caring mental health professional who gives of herself whenever she can.
Linda Latona, Disaster Mental Health: Linda accepted the role of Disaster Mental Health for the Metro New York North chapter with passion and enthusiasm. Her innovative ideas to engage and connect with the team have helped to create a culture of teamwork, where team members are more engaged and supportive of each other. She is kind, caring, and inspires everyone around her with her actions and passion for the mission.
Dante Munoz, Disaster Action Team: Dante brings an effortless positivity each time he is on shift. He cares for our clients by showing compassion and empathy in every interaction and is welcoming and kind to his fellow responders. He is always happy to assist and continue practicing his response skills, and routinely comes in to fill gaps or stays late to finish a response.
Krystle Pasion, Emergency Communications Center: Krystle is a relatively new volunteer in the Emergency Communications Center (ECC). During the height of the flood DR-530-24 [heavy precipitation and flooding in the Greater New York region beginning on September 29], Krystle was not on schedule but signed up to assist. Krystle immediately began triaging the calls and assisting our Disaster Action Teams with active fires. Krystle has demonstrated a strong desire to learn the role of the ECC dispatcher and is committed to servicing our clients who are in need.
Joyce Weaver, Disaster Mental Health: Joy is a Long Island Disaster Mental Health (DMH) Lead who has the responsibility to manage the On-Call Team. Joy makes sure that the DMH services are delivered, assigning volunteers to assist clients and/or the workforce. She engages the group of volunteers in her team and supports them with the information they need to succeed in their role. Joy is a devoted volunteer who is deeply committed to her work. She is driven by her passion to help others, and she is always willing to put in the extra effort.
Thank you to all our amazing volunteers for their work to help alleviate suffering throughout the Greater New York region and beyond.
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