By Amy Thomas

Greenville, South Carolina - A dedicated volunteer who has gone above and beyond the call of duty throughout her service with the American Red Cross of South Carolina, Janet McPhail, is a 2022 American Red Cross Presidential Award Recipient. The honor was given to her in recognition of her 20-plus years of exemplary service with the Red Cross.

Since McPhail retired, she has dedicated 60-plus hours a week to serving the Red Cross of South Carolina, first as an on-call team member of the Disaster Action Team (DAT), then as both an on-call DAT team member and CPR, AED, and infant CPR instructor. Today, she dedicates her time and expertise to training the next generation of CPR, AED, and infant CPR instructors as an Instructor Trainer Educator, ensuring that future instructors are well equipped to provide life-saving classes to the public.

Additionally, Janet works as a Volunteer Partner with the Service Delivery Program Implementation & Training Strategy, assisting them with updating program modules software, proofreading manuals, and finding and scheduling instructors for Red Cross CPR, AED, and infant CPR classes.

When asked about how her service with the Red
Cross has impacted her life, McPhail replied:

“I love it [volunteering with the Red Cross]. I think it’s just helping people all the way around and it’s different. I’ve gone into places where somebody will walk up and say, you don’t remember me but you stayed with us while we cried, or you held my hand and hugged me when my house burned. One year while we [Red Cross team members] were doing a Christmas parade, a lady said that she needed to share with me that I had talked with a couple from her church the week before about CPR. Later that week, their son choked and they wanted you to know that you saved his life. Without you, they wouldn’t have known what to do. So those, those right there are
affirmations that what you’re doing is the right thing”.

Reflecting on the honor she received as a 2022
American Red Cross Presidential Award for Excellence recipient, McPhail stated that it was an affirming and cherished experience. She felt that the ceremony truly focused on the continuing contributions of all the volunteers present and that she was beyond honored to be there.

It is through the dedicated service of volunteers like Janet McPhail that the Red Cross is able to continue impacting the lives of those around us for the better. We are grateful to Janet, and all of our volunteers, for showing up each day and providing exemplary service to our communities.