The 29th Annual Acts of Courage Awards.
The Red Cross of Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley honors those residents of Summit, Portage, Medina, Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties who have acted courageously and selflessly in a time of emergency.
Join us as we recognize everyday citizens who have gone above and beyond when the need arose. In addition, one outstanding community leader will receive the H. Peter Burg Community Leader Award. This award is presented each year to one or more individuals who best exemplify leadership in the community, compassion for its people and dedication to the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross.
If your company or organization is interested in sponsoring the 2025 H. Peter Burg and Acts of Courage Awards event, please contact Rachel Stine at 330-535-6131 or email rachel.stine@redcross.org.
Thursday, March 6, 2025 | 5:30 p.m.
If you do, we need your help identifying these local heroes!
Nominations close on Thursday, December 31, 2024.
Each year since 2004, the Red Cross takes an opportunity to present a community member, who has spent a lifetime pursuing good deeds, with the H. Peter Burg Community Leader Award.
Ron Paydo serves as Market President for the Akron-Canton area, having previously worked as Dedicated Business Banking Group Director and Community President in Medina, Ohio. Ron has been with Huntington or previous banks since 1987, when he began his banking career as a Management Trainee with FirstMerit Bank. Ron was a Regional President for FirstMerit covering Medina, Richland and Ashland counties, before becoming the Director of Small Business for the bank until 2016. He became the Business Banking Area Manager for Canton, Akron and the Mahoning Valley upon the FirstMerit merger with Huntington. He’s held regional leadership roles since the merger.
Active in mentoring youth, Ron and his wife Kathleen have fostered more than 170 kids. They also hosted seven exchange students through the local Rotary Club.
Ron sits on a number of boards in Summit and Medina County. These include the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce, The United Way of Summit & Medina, Team NEO, The American Red Cross of Greater Akron and Mahoning Valley, Great Trail Council, BSA, Cleveland Clinic – Medina Hospital, and Portage Path Behavioral Health. He is also a founding board member of the Medina County Blue Coats and Main Street Wadsworth organizations.
Ron and Kathleen where recently presented with the Key to the City of Wadsworth, OH.
Richard W. Burke | 2024
Pam Kanfer, of Blessed Memory, and Joe Kanfer | 2023
Bernett L. Williams | 2022
Nick and Cindy Browning | 2021
Steve Hendricks | 2020
Virginia Addicott | 2019
Brian Moore | 2018
Kevin Thompson | 2017
Leonard Foster | 2016
William J. Ginter | 2015
Pamela Williams | 2014
David Lieberth | 2013
Mark and Sandy Auburn | 2012
Dave Brockman | 2011
Theresa Carter | 2010
Donna Early | 2009
Roger and Judy Read | 2008
Bud and Susie Rogers | 2007
Bill and Becky Considine | 2006
Duane Isham | 2005
H. Peter Burg | 2004
