American Red Cross Recognizes Volunteer Achievements

American Red Cross East Tennessee Chapter

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 31, 2023 – The American Red Cross East Tennessee Chapter recently recognized its exceptional volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to help people in need.

“We are even more aware of the great dedication of our volunteers, whose support makes a dramatic difference for our neighbors in need,” Joel Sullivan, regional executive said. “In thanks for their dedicated service, we have presented Francis (Fritz) Walker and Cathy Beasley with Red Cross volunteer awards for the vital role they play in carrying out our mission in our community.”

In the Tennessee region, more than 2,000 people volunteer with the Red Cross by responding to home fires and other disasters, supporting blood collections, providing emergency assistance to military families, and much more. These individuals are among the more than 300,000 volunteers nationwide who comprise more than 90% of the national Red Cross workforce.

This year’s award winners are:

-Francis (Fritz) Walker of Knoxville, Chapter Disaster Award.

-Cathy Beasley, Chapter Humanitarian Award for Business Operations.

“Fritz Walker, regardless of the day or time, will hop up and go out to support the community.” said Sharon Hudson, chapter executive director. “Fritz is one that can be relied upon to answer emergency calls day or night. He has the patience of a saint when training a new volunteer and shows compassion in the way that upholds the values of the Red Cross. He has the presence of being a true servant that is happy to be on site doing what he is doing.”

“Cathy Beasley excels in her role as a facility volunteer,” Hudson said. “She takes the initiative to solve problems. She collaborates with teammates to complete safety checks and required preventative maintenance checks. Cathy exemplifies the 5 Cs: she is a creative problem solver who shows dedication, follows through on completion and collaborates on all projects. Her compassion is evident in her gift of time to the Red Cross and her generosity of spirit in supporting the mission.”

If you are interested in becoming an American Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up online.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Tennessee or cruzrojaamericana.org, visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossTN.