HONOLULU — The American Red Cross is celebrating the work of remarkable volunteers with the Presidential Award for Excellence. Among the nine finalists nationwide is Sue Tarle of Honolulu. The finalists for the award will be honored during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 1pm HST. A watch party will be held to recognize Sue and her work at each of the Red Cross offices across the state, with Sue attending the event at the Diamond Head office headquarters in Honolulu.

The Presidential Award for Excellence honors American Red Cross employees and volunteers who have demonstrated exemplary dedication, going above and beyond in delivering services, supporting our multi-faceted mission, and embodying our core values.

As nominees are selected from across the country, having a finalist for this prestigious award from Hawaii is a great honor. Sue Tarle has been a Red Cross volunteer for 16 years and currently works with both our Disaster Cycle Services and Service to the Armed Forces departments. There are countless examples of her work being invaluable to those impacted by disaster, including her assistance in reuniting families after the Lahaina Wildfires both across the state and nationwide. She has been a part of 12 disaster deployments, volunteered over 3,000 hours in the last year alone, and has trained to be a leader in her fields. Sue’s hard work and impactful contribution to the Red Cross humanitarian mission have certainly earned her this national spotlight.

Nominees like Sue represent the very best of the Red Cross, and this ceremony is a moment to recognize her, along with the other finalists, for their invaluable impact and extraordinary achievements. The virtual ceremony will be held at 1pm HST on Wednesday, January 7^th, with an in-person watch party at each Red Cross office across Hawaii. Sue will attend at the Diamond Head offices in Honolulu as her colleagues cheer her on.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/hawaii or follow us on social media.

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