Nominations will be accepted for the following categories:

• Blood Services - The 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, 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.
• Community Impact - The nominee 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 acted to address that need.
• Disaster Services - The nominee is an individual who has exhibited heroic efforts in any or all the areas of disaster services, including preparedness, response or recovery during a natural disaster or emergency through mission-driven response assistance to people in need. The nominee has exhibited heroism in response to an emergency or is involved in an ongoing commitment to a community that experienced a disaster through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.
• Good Samaritan - The eligible nominee(s) is 18 years or 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.
• Emerging Leader - The nominee(s) must be 17 years old or under at the time of the incident or act. The eligible nominee(s) 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(s) can be involved in an on-going commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.
  
• Emergency Medical Assistance - The nominee is an individual(s) who has exhibited heroic efforts as a paramedic, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) representative, or a non-medical professional with any type of emergency training (i.e.: lifeguard training, CPR training, or first aid).
• Nurse - The nominee(s) is a licensed and practicing nurse, nursing student or retired nurse. The 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 or the nominee is involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.
• Military - The nominee(s) is a U.S. service member (active, reserve, and guard), veteran, or military supporter. The eligible nominee(s) could have been on- or off-duty at the time of the heroic event. 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 or the nominee is involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.
• Law Enforcement - The nominee(s) is a professional police officer or related law enforcement official. The 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 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.
• Firefighter - The nominee is a professional, reserve or volunteer firefighter, or medical personnel related to the dispatch operations of a fire department. The 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 or the nominee is involved in an ongoing commitment to the community through an act/s of kindness, courage, or unselfishness in response to an identified need.

1. Candidate must live, work, or attend school in one of the above 16 counties.
2. Candidate must have performed an act of heroism, demonstrated extraordinary courage, or performed a humanitarian deed(s) within the time frame of January 31, 2022 – January 31, 2023. (Exception: There are no timeframe restrictions for the Military categories. You may nominate any service member active duty or veteran.)
3. A team of people may be nominated together if the entire team, and not just one member of the team, performed the action or act that they are being nominated for.

Nominations must include the following:

• Tell us why the individual is a hero.
• Explain why you are nominating the individual for the specific category.
• Describe the individual’s most significant contribution and/or achievement.
• Describe the impact the contribution and/or achievement has had on the community; and,
• Provide other insights that underscore the individual’s achievement.

Nomination forms must be received by Tuesday, January 31, 2023 to be considered eligible for our 2023 Salute to WNC Heroes event. Award decisions will be based upon information provided in your nomination form. All nominations will be reviewed by the Salute to WNC Heroes Selection Committee. The committee will be checking for the points referenced in the Nomination Process; therefore, please include as many details as possible. The committee may select one or more award recipient(s) or no recipients in any of the categories.

For questions regarding the nomination process or utilization of this form, please contact Meredith Batchelor at meredith.batchelor@redcross.org.

Nominations must be received by January 31, 2023.