LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two teenagers saved a man’s life while traveling overseas; a doctor traveled to Nepal to perform life-changing cataract surgeries; a father saved a woman’s life and honors his son’s legacy.
These heroic community members were among those honored by American Red Cross at last year’s Real Heroes Breakfast.
Now the American Red Cross, serving Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, is seeking new heroes to honor at the 10th annual breakfast on Thursday, April 18, from 7:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
The breakfast benefits the local Red Cross chapter and supports essential Red Cross services. It will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park.
Last year, Lake County residents honored at the awards ceremony included Hidden Valley Lake Security Officer Byran Atkins, Security Operations Manager Steve Atkinson, firefighter/paramedic Gabe Lopez, Lake County Fire firefighter/EMT Eric Vineyard and California Highway Patrol Officer Josh Dye.
All of the men had been involved with the rescue on Dec. 20, 2011, of Kevin Hart and Jordan Armstrong, injured during a house fire in Hidden Valley Lake.
For the upcoming awards, heroic acts must be ongoing or have occurred between Jan. 1, 2012 and Feb. 8, 2013. Heroes for all categories must live in, or heroic acts must have taken place in, Lake, Mendocino or Sonoma counties.
Nomination forms, which must be received by Feb. 8, are available on www.redcross.org/LakeCounty or from the Red Cross by calling 707-577-7627.
There are 10 categories of nominations: animal, education, environment, heroic deed, humanitarian youth, humanitarian adult, law enforcement, medical, military and professional rescue.
The Real Heroes Selection Committee, comprised of community leaders, will review nominations.
The selection committee chair is Dr. Frank Chong, president, Santa Rosa Junior College.
Other committee members are Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Lake County; Jitu Ishwar, owner, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot, Mendocino County; and from Sonoma County, Vince Albano, chief executive officer, Mary’s Pizza Shack; Travis Collier, lieutenant commander, United States Coast Guard; Tom Eakin, general manager, Peter Michael Winery; Chris Smith, columnist, Press Democrat; and Maria Sundeen, marketing coordinator, American AgCredit.
Companies interested in sponsorship are encouraged to contact Ashley Fehrmann, chief development officer for the Red Cross, at 707-577-7627 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
There is no set donation amount. Guests are encouraged to generously support the work of the American Red Cross in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties by donating at least $1 for every year the Red Cross has served the American people, 132 years.
To find out about becoming a sponsor, attending the event, or donating to support the Red Cross and the breakfast, interested parties can visit www.redcross.org/LakeCounty or call 707-577-7627.