Nominations to Honor Local Heroes Ends Jan. 30

The American Red Cross is accepting nominations to honor local standouts at its annual Heroes Breakfast in spring 2015. The Red Cross honors community members every year who have demonstrated heroism through extraordinary acts of courage or kindness. To nominate a hero: click here or call 312-729-6178. Nominations are due Jan. 30.

Hero candidates must live or work in the Illinois counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry or Will. The heroic act must have taken place on or after Jan. 1, 2014. Honorees will receive a Red Cross medal of honor at the 13th annual event Tuesday, April 21 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL.

Nominations are being accepted in the following 11 categories:

• Adult Good Samaritan: an individual(s) who courageously and selflessly responded to a significant or unexpected crisis;

• Blood Services: an individual(s) or organization who promotes community blood donation awareness and helped to build the community blood supply;

• Citizenship: an individual(s) who showed concern and worked to improve the safety and well-being of others;

• Community Impact: an individual(s) who displays leadership and commitment to his or her community by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact in society;

• Disaster Relief: an individual(s) who exhibited heroic efforts in response to a natural disaster or emergency situation, providing relief to victims through financial or voluntary assistance;

• Emergency Medical Assistance: an individual(s) who, during a time of crisis, provided medical assistance including CPR and/or first aid to a person or people in need;

• Firefighter: a professional or volunteer firefighter(s) who acted above and beyond the call of duty, exhibiting heroism either in response to an emergency situation or through an ongoing commitment to the community;

• Law Enforcement: a professional police officer(s) or related law enforcement official(s) who exhibited heroism either in response to an emergency situation or through an ongoing commitment to the community;

• Military: an active, reserve, ROTC, retired member(s) of the Armed Forces, or a military supporter, who acted above and beyond the call of duty;

• Nurse: a licensed and practicing nurse, nursing student, or retired nurse who exhibited heroism either in their response to an emergency situation or through an ongoing commitment to the community;

• Youth Good Samaritan: an individual(s) who courageously and selflessly responded to a significant or unexpected crisis.

Videos featuring last year’s local Red Cross heroes can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/chicagoredcross.

The 2015 Heroes Breakfast is made possible thanks to the generosity of sponsors: Aon, Baxter International Corporation, BMO Harris Bank, CDW, Fresenius Kabi, ITW, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Navistar International Corporation, Northern Trust, PwC, USG Corporation, and Walgreens.

Celebrating 100 Years of the American Red Cross in the Chicago Region
The year 2015 marks the Centennial celebration of the Chicago Chapter of the American Red Cross. For the last 100 years, the Red Cross has been there for people in the Chicago area during the moments when they needed them. Since the chapter was chartered in 1915, they have helped millions of people affected by local disasters including home fires, floods, tornadoes and seasonal emergencies. From health and safety classes, to lifesaving blood collection and support of military members, their families and veterans, the Red Cross has helped make our community safer and more prepared for what may come in the next 100 years. Join them during the 2015 Red Cross Centennial: Volunteer, Donate, Celebrate.

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 redcross.org. Follow them on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.