On Guam, helping one another isn’t just something we do—it’s who we are. The Paz family embodies that spirit, showing how service, compassion, and resilience are passed down from one generation to the next.

As Typhoon Sinlaku impacts our island community, the Paz family is once again stepping up, ready to support neighbors in need with open hearts and steady hands.

Ellery Paz, a Community Engagement Partner volunteer, is on the ground supporting disaster response efforts. A teacher in the Guam school system, Ellery knows this island well. Like so many on Guam, he’s no stranger to storms, having also supported relief efforts following Typhoon Mawar. His commitment to service reflects a deep love for the place he calls home.

Standing alongside him is his wife, Genelyn Paz, a Guam-based volunteer who serves on the Red Cross Disaster Health Services team. A Physician Associate, Genelyn brings insights to her volunteer disaster response team. Her Red Cross journey began in 2008 while she was on active duty in South Korea, and over the years she has worn many volunteer hats—from serving on the Disaster Action Team after home fires, to training CPR instructors, to supporting feeding teams in shelters. Wherever there’s a need, Genelyn is there.

Service truly runs in the Paz family. Their sons have grown up seeing what it means to give back, and they’ve followed that example in their own ways. Fifteen-year-old Narciso is a Red Cross youth volunteer, CPR trained, and a familiar face at Red Cross events across the island. His brother, Nathan, also gives back by volunteering with the Disaster Health Services team, continuing the family’s tradition of service.

In a close-knit community like Guam, families like the Paz family remind us that resilience is built together—and that caring for one another is at the heart of island life. Together, they exemplify what it truly means to serve with heart.

Learn more about volunteering at redcross.org/volunteer.