Greater Cleveland Heroes – 2020

Breakfast ceremony held at the Global Center for Health Innovation

By Jim McIntyre, American Red Cross

March 13, 2020- Nine people and one Labradoodle were honored at the 2020 Greater Cleveland Hero Awards breakfast on Thursday, March 12, at the Global Center for Health Innovation in Cleveland. And Ronn Richard, the President and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation was recognized at the Community Leader Award winner.

Read more about the Hero honorees, and the events that led to the recognition below:

  • Sixteen-year-old Elise Kilmer of Burton was in her room with her Labradoodle Saige last November, when suddenly, Saige began to bark continuously. When Elise opened her door, Saige bounded down the stairs to the kitchen. Elise followed, and found her grandmother lying on the floor unresponsive. Elise recalled her American Red Cross training, and applied it during this critical situation. First, she called 9-1-1. Then, she checked for a pulse and began performing CPR, continuing until medical personnel arrived. Her grandmother credits Elise with saving her life. Elise is also a Red Cross-trained lifeguard.  She was also presented with a Certificate of Merit, the highest award the American Red Cross offers to someone who used their Red Cross training to save a life. Watch Elise’s story here.
Elise Kilmer

Elise Kilmer

  • Cleveland Heights Police Officer Josh Robertson, the first to arrive at the scene of a home fire in July, was told by a distressed mother that her 6-year-old son was trapped inside. Disregarding the heavy smoke inside the home, and without the benefit of any protective clothing or equipment, Robertson pushed his way into the home and crawled on the floor in an effort to find the boy. He couldn’t see the child, but he heard the sound of moaning and followed it until he felt the boy, grabbing him by his clothes and dragging the child to safety, despite being overcome by smoke. He and the child survived. Watch Josh’s story here.
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Josh Robertson with Regional CEO Mike Parks and Greater Cleveland Chapter Board of Directors Chairman Chris Mapes

  • Sandra Patrick of KeyBank has played a crucial role in helping meet the demand for blood, which is vital to the survival of hospital patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatment and other medical conditions. Patrick has organized blood drives at two KeyBank office locations for more than 10 years, and she has been instrumental in increasing sponsorship and participation. She is currently the point of contact with the Red Cross for 12 different blood drives, and recently expanded the drives to include other building tenants. Beyond her management of blood drives, Patrick has also recruited other KeyBank employees to help with Sound the Alarm, the Red Cross initiative to save lives by installing free smoke alarms. Watch Sandra’s story here.
Sandra Patrick

Sandra Patrick

  • On the morning of Thursday, Sept. 19, a Jack Casino surveillance team member was working when he went into full cardiac arrest. Within a minute, coworker Charles Fuller called for assistance and began administering CPR. Less than a minute later, security training instructor Jacqueline Duthie arrived to assist, and within a minute of that, security manager Hassan Ali arrived with an AED. It was the first time he had been called to use the lifesaving device since receiving CPR/AED training four years earlier. Fuller, Duthie and Ali continued to provide medical attention until paramedics arrived. The stricken coworker survived, and doctors confirmed that without the immediate lifesaving response, the outcome most likely would have been much different. Watch Charles, Jacqueline and Hassan’s story here.
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Charles Fuller, Jacqueline Duthie and Hassan Ali

  • Amanda Berry endured one of the most horrific experiences imaginable, being held captive for 10 years after being kidnapped at age 16. But she never lost hope, and 10 years later, she and her toddler daughter escaped their prison, and helped lead two other female captives to freedom as well. Since that time, Berry has dedicated her life to raising her daughter, and to help find missing persons who may be experiencing the same horrors she did. She appears on Fox 8 News, looking into a camera, describing those who have gone missing, and asking viewers for help finding them. Berry is not a trained broadcaster or news reporter, but she fearlessly puts herself out there to help others, because she genuinely cares about them, even though they are strangers. She knows they all have family members who are awaiting their return—just as her family members did. Despite her traumatic past, Berry is making the most of her present, and is looking forward to a bright future for herself, her daughter and others she may have a role in helping return home. Watch Amanda’s story here.
Amanda Barry

Amanda Berry

  • Nine-year-old Troy Cavadas of Columbia Station was watching his dad try to burn a tree stump with kerosene outside their home in early November when fuel splashed on them both, setting their clothes on fire. Troy had just learned how to stop, drop and roll at school less than a month earlier. He didn’t panic and was able to put the flames out on his clothing. He then yelled, “Roll, Daddy, roll, roll!” But the fire kept growing. Troy then grabbed a garden hose and soaked his dad with water until the flames went out. Firefighters call Troy a hero.
  • Part two of this hero story involves the firefighter who taught Troy the fire safety skills that helped save him and his dad. Columbia Township volunteer firefighter Brett Wilson visited Troy’s school just one week before the 23-year-old firefighter lost his life trying to help two people involved in a car crash. Wilson was electrocuted after coming into contact with a downed power line. Troy’s father, Jed, credits Wilson with saving his life. Brett’s parents, Barb and Gary Wilson, accepted the award on behalf of their hero son. Watch Troy and Brett’s story here.
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Troy Cavadas and Brett Wilson’s parents Barb and Gary accepting the award from Regional CEO Mike Parks and Greater Cleveland Chapter Board of Directors Chairman Chris Mapes

 

Ronn Richard’s Community Leader Award was presented by Regional Red Cross CEO Mike Parks, and Chris Mapes, President and CEO of Lincoln Electric and Chairman of the Red Cross of Greater Cleveland.

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Ronn Richard accepting the Community Leader Award from Mike Parks and Chris Mapes

The event was hosted by long-time Cleveland television journalist Denise Dufala.

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Denise Dufala with Chris Mapes

To nominate a hero for the next Hero Awards, complete the online form.

Visit our Flickr page to view more photos from the 2020 Greater Cleveland Chapter Heroes and Community Leader Award.

Edited by Glenda Bogar, American Red Cross volunteer

Pre-investing in disaster relief

Orville-based Smucker’s commits $500,000 to Annual Disaster Giving Program

By Jim McIntyre, American Red Cross

When disaster strikes, the American Red Cross must be prepared.  Prepared to set up safe shelters, deliver critical supplies, provide emotional support, and help people in need put their lives back together.

Thanks to members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP), we are able to respond whenever and wherever disasters occur.  And one Northeast Ohio company is now a member of the ADGP.

The J. M. Smucker Company is among more than 110 leading corporations and organizations that give to ensure the Red Cross can pre-position supplies, secure shelters, maintain vehicles and train volunteers nationwide, to help keep the Red Cross ready to respond, day and night.

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Richard Smucker – Photo credit/American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio

Richard Smucker, Executive Chairman of the Company, said, “At Smucker, we have seen first-hand how critical the Red Cross is in times of tragedy – most recently with the devastating wildfires in California last year. We have a facility in Chico, California, and while the facility was not damaged, 19 of our employees were displaced and 13 of those employees sadly lost their homes.”

Each year, the Red Cross immediately responds to an average of more than 62,000 disasters around the country— from home fires to tornadoes and severe winter weather, hurricanes and floods to transportation accidents and explosions. The Red Cross not only provides food, shelter and clothing, but also offers comfort and care to help those affected by disaster during their time of greatest need.

“The J. M. Smucker Company and other members of our Annual Disaster Giving Program pre-invest in disaster relief,”  said Mike Parks, CEO of the Red Cross Northeast Ohio Region. “They also help us prepare communities for future disasters, and help families during the recovery process.  We are so grateful for their assistance. It’s because of their help that the Red Cross can always be there in times of need.”

Richard Smucker II

Richard Smucker received the Humanitarian of the year award in May, presented by the immediate past honoree, Beth Mooney of KeyBank.  From left: Greater Cleveland Chapter Board Chair Chris Mapes, Richard Smucker, Beth Mooney and Red Cross Regional CEO Mike Parks.

Read the latest story on the National ADGP here.

Edited by Glenda Bogar, American Red Cross volunteer

Lincoln Electric workers continue to make Euclid homes safer

Company workers install smoke alarms for the fifth consecutive year

By Jim McIntyre, American Red Cross

More than 600 homes in the city of Euclid have been made safer in the past four years, thanks to the efforts of Lincoln Electric employees and the American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio.  They have installed more than 1,700 free smoke alarms, provided free batteries for existing alarms and offered valuable fire safety information during an annual event that began in 2015.

During the most recent Sound the Alarm event on Saturday, Sept. 21, dozens of Lincoln Electric workers gathered in teams of four, going door-to-door, and installing 328 alarms in 123 homes.

“This is a way for our company to give back to the community where we work,” said Chris Mapes, chairman, president and CEO of Lincoln Electric. “Our employees are helping make the community safer with free smoke alarms and fire safety information provided by the Red Cross.”

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Lincoln Electric Chairman, President and CEO Chris Mapes rallies employees prior to the 2019 Sound the Alarm event.  Photo credit: Jim McIntyre/American Red Cross

Mike Parks, regional CEO of the Red Cross of Northeast Ohio, said, “Lincoln Electric has been a dedicated partner in our efforts to make the community more resilient and save lives, thanks to efforts such as this.”

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Mike Parks, left, and Chris Mapes- Photo credit: Cal Pusateri/American Red Cross volunteer

As has been the case every year since Lincoln Electric staff began installing smoke alarms in 2015, Euclid Fire Chief Chris Haddock grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken to provide the employees who volunteered their time with a hearty lunch before they embarked on their lifesaving mission. Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail rallied the troops and thanked them for helping save lives.

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Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail and Tim O’Toole, Regional Disaster Officer, American Red Cross – Photo credit: Cal Pusateri/American Red Cross volunteer

Every day, seven people die in home fires, most in homes without working smoke alarms. But these lifesaving devices cut the risk of dying in a fire in half. That’s why the Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign, to prevent needless deaths and injuries. Through the campaign’s year-round Sound the Alarm events, like the one that took place in Euclid on Saturday, volunteers and partners install free smoke alarms and help families create home fire escape plans.

The national Red Cross effort is modeled largely after a program that began in the city of Cleveland in 1992. Since then, more than 200,000 smoke alarms have been installed in Greater Cleveland by the local Red Cross and its partners.

Residents who need smoke alarms in their homes can visit soundthealarm.org/neo or call 216-361-5535 to request a and installation appointment. To volunteer for a future Sound the Alarm event and to learn more about other volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteer.

To see more photos from the Lincoln Electric Sound the Alarm event, visit our photo album on Flickr.

Edited by Glenda Bogar/American Red Cross volunteer

The J. M. Smucker Company honored, big news unveiled at Wrapped in Red Gala

Thank you.

That was the main purpose for throwing the Wrapped in Red Gala on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at the Global Center for Health Innovation in downtown Cleveland. To say, “Thank you” to the many donors who contributed to the bloodmobile campaign for the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio.

More than $530,000 was donated to the campaign.

“We are happy to announce that we have met our goal and have ordered the new bloodmobile,” Regional CEO Mike Parks said from the ballroom stage. “The Red Cross could not fulfill its mission to keep the nation’s blood supply whole without your generosity. Thank you!”

That wasn’t the only newsworthy item of the evening. Richard Smucker, executive

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Richard Smucker

chairman of The J. M. Smucker Company, announced, “I am very excited to share this evening that we will be increasing our support of the Red Cross and will now be an Annual Disaster Giving Program supporter.”

The Orrville-based company has committed $500,000 to pre-disaster planning.

With this level of support, Smucker’s will ensure the Red Cross can pre-position supplies, secure shelters, maintain vehicles and train volunteers nationwide to help keep the Red Cross ready to respond, day and night. This support also ensures the Red Cross can remain on hand to assist people as they recover following disaster.

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From left: Chris Mapes, Richard Smucker, Beth Mooney, Mike Parks 

The announcement of the increased level of support was made after Smucker’s was presented with the Steve D. Bullock Humanitarian Award, for its embodiment of the spirit of the Red Cross, through its contributions to the welfare and quality of life in the community. In addition to the Red Cross, the company supports a wide range of organizations locally and nationally.

The evening began in the atrium of the Global Center, where about 300 guests enjoyed local treats like Lake Erie walleye sliders, potato and cheese pierogi from the West Side Market, and locally crafted beer, along with red and white wine selections.

“Red and white, just like our blood cells,” WKYC’s Sara Shookman said, before auctioning the single item of the evening: a ticket package to the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star game and associated activities, donated by Bank of America, and a dugout suite at Progressive Field for an Indians game, provided by FOXSports Ohio.

Following the brief formal program, the ballroom dance floor became the venue for an “After-Party,” sponsored by the Red Cross Young Professionals Council.

“The YPC Wrapped in Red Gala After-Party marks a strategic shift in the Greater Cleveland chapter’s fundraising mission and mindset, which does rely on financial resources, but also illustrates the inclusion of the younger generation in their future plans,” said Steve Siemborski, co-chair of the YPC. “I, along with the rest of the young professional community, am extremely proud to represent the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross as we celebrate the purchase of a new bloodmobile.”

YPC co-chair Andrew Bales added, “With such a strong group of young professionals in the Northeast Ohio region, we can significantly impact those in need, whether it is through a blood drive, Sound the Alarm campaign or any other volunteer capacity.”

Photos from the Wrapped in Red Gala can be viewed here.

To make an appointment to donate blood, whether it be at the donor site in Cleveland or Akron, a blood drive in the region, or aboard a Red Cross bloodmobile, visit redcrossblood.org.

 

A hero saves a life with CPR

Honored with National Certificate of Merit

By Jim McIntyre, American Red Cross

March 29, 2019 – Three weeks.  That’s the amount of time that elapsed between Sheila Burke’s certification for American Red Cross Adult First Aid/CPR/AED, and the incident that required her intervention.

Three weeks after receiving her certificate for learning the lifesaving skill in 2018, Sheila found herself performing CPR on a woman who had overdosed on drugs.  It happened at Monarch House, a sober living environment dedicated to women in recovery from addiction.  Monarch House is part of Recovery Resources, where Sheila was an employee.

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Sheila Burke

“I never thought I’d ever use CPR in my lifetime, and there I was, three weeks after taking the course,” she said prior to a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of the Red Cross Greater Cleveland Chapter.  She was invited to attend the meeting and to receive the American Red Cross Certificate or Merit, the highest award given by the Red Cross to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in a Red Cross Training Services course.

The certificate bears the signature of the President of the United States, who is the honorary chairman of the Red Cross, and the signature of the chair of the American Red Cross.

The certificate was accompanied by a citation, which reads, in part, ” Ms. Burke was taking part in a meeting when she was witness to a woman starting to lose consciousness in her chair.  Ms. Burke jumped into action and ran to the victim to check for signs of life. The woman has stopped breathing, did not have a pulse and was turning blue.   After assessing the situation, Ms. Burke instructed a bystander to call 9-1-1.  She started to perform CPR.  Ms. Burke had suspected an overdose of drugs and asked a bystander to retrieve a dose of Naloxone, which was administered.  The woman appeared to regain color and signs of life.”

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Greater Cleveland Chapter Board Chair Chris Mapes, left, Sheila Burke, and Mike Parks

“We are honored to recognize Sheila for her quick-thinking and decisive action,” said Mike Parks, Regional CEO of the Red Cross of Northeast Ohio.  “She is a testament to the value of every person learning First Aid and CPR, and how to use an AED.”

Red Cross courses are listed on our website.  You may also call 1-800-RED CROSS for information on First Aid/CPR/AED, Lifeguard, Swimming, and Babysitting courses.

Photo credit: Doug Bardwell, American Red Cross volunteer

 

Partners at Lincoln Electric, Euclid Fire Department Help Make Homes Safer

Hundreds of smoke alarms installed during the company’s fourth annual effort

Madison Miller was wearing big rubber gloves – pink, her favorite color – as she helped her mommy clean the house, when she heard a knock on the door.  Outside, four workers from Lincoln Electric asked if they could come in and help make her Euclid home safer.  They were volunteering with the American Red Cross on Saturday, August 4th, as part of a Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation event.

Madison’s mother, LaceJavone Hill was happy to receive the volunteers, who installed a free smoke alarm on each floor of her home.  The volunteers also told Madison and her mom how to create an escape plan.

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Madison Miller, 6 and her mom LaceJavone Hill

“What you’re really doing is providing an opportunity to save someone’s life,” said Chris Mapes, Chairman, President and CEO of Lincoln Electric, as he rallied the troops before they fanned out across the community.  “You probably didn’t think you’d be spending your Saturday afternoon saving lives.  But that’s what this is all about.”

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Chris Mapes speaks with Lincoln Electric volunteers

It was the fourth year in a row that Lincoln Electric employees and interns volunteered to install smoke alarms and provide fire safety information to residents in the community the company calls home.  This year, nearly 70 interns and employees volunteered for the Sound the Alarm event.

“The first year there were 30.  The next, 40.  Last year there were 50 Lincoln Electric volunteers.  Today, 68 of you are here,” said Mike Parks, Regional CEO of the Red Cross of Northeast Ohio. “Over the last four years, we’ll have installed well over 1,250 alarms in the city of Euclid, making close to 450 homes safer.  You are not only saving lives, you are making this community become more resilient.”

Before the smoke alarm installations took place, the volunteers gathered in the cafeteria at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School on Lakeshore Boulevard, where they were fed pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken, barbecued in the parking lot by Euclid Fire Chief Chris Haddock, who expressed his appreciation for the work that was about to take place.

“As the fire department, on a daily basis throughout the year we install smoke alarms,” said the chief.  “But you guys will do more today than we will do all year long.  So you’re really making a difference.”

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Volunteer Justin Grabinski tests the alarm he installed in a Euclid home

By the end of the event, 373 smoke alarms had been installed, making 141 homes safer —including young Madison’s home.  And while the alarms should be tested every month, they are designed to last 10 years without a battery change.

Residents throughout Northeast Ohio can request smoke alarms by visiting soundthealarm.org/neo.  And those interested in helping make homes safer, like the Lincoln Electric employees did last Saturday, can apply to become a Red Cross volunteer by visiting redcross.org/neo, and clicking the volunteer tab.

See our photo album of the Lincoln Electric Sound the Alarm event on Flicker.  The pre-event “pep rally,” featuring the comments of Chris Mapes, Mike Parks, Chief Haddock, Euclid Mayor Kirsten Gail, and Red Cross Regional Disaster Program Officer Tim O’Toole were streamed live on our Facebook page, where it may still be viewed .

 

Sounding the Alarm in Euclid

Partnership with Lincoln Electric and Euclid Fire Department Helps Save Lives

More than 50 employees, trainees and interns from Lincoln Electric fanned out in the shadow of the firm’s giant windmill in Euclid on Saturday to help make residents safer. They were taking part in a home fire safety and smoke alarm installation event, for the third year in a row.

“It’s a way for our company and our employees to give back to the community,” said Chris Mapes, Lincoln Electric CEO. “Our goal is to go out and meet the community and assist them in having a safer home environment, where we can provide them with smoke alarms that have been provided to us by the American Red Cross and make this a safer community.”  IMG_4410

Lincoln Electric has been headquartered in Euclid for more than 122 years.

As in the previous two years, the volunteers were first treated to lunch prepared by Chief Chris Haddock and other members of the Euclid Fire Department,  long-time partners in our free smoke alarm installation program.  The volunteers then received instructions for sharing fire safety information with residents, and for the proper installation of smoke alarms.

Nearly 130 homes were made safer, and almost 370 smoke alarms were installed on several streets in Euclid.IMG_4428

“I’m glad you guys are doing it,” said resident Steve Washington.  As the volunteers installed new alarms with 10-year lithium batteries in his home, he said, “If you got children, even pets, if you sleep heavy you’ll hear that thing.  It’ll wake you up in a minute.  You never know when a fire’s gonna start.”

The home of Denise Miller is once again well protected, as the eight older smoke alarms in her home were replaced with new alarms.  “It’s nice to update them.  I don’t know how long they’ve actually been in our home,”  she said of the old alarms. “My husband had them put up when the kids were little.”IMG_4431

Like many people, Denise wasn’t aware that the sensors that detect smoke from a fire can fail after ten years.  “I had no idea.  I figured as long as the batteries were chirping, and you pressed the button on occasion, you were good.”

Mike Parks, CEO of the Red Cross Northeast Ohio Region, called the partnership with Lincoln Electric, “One of the best corporate partnerships we have.  We have the opportunity to save lives, make homes safer,  and make the community more resilient.”

For more pictures from the event, visit our photo album on Flickr here.

Saturday’s smoke alarm installations in Euclid preceded a nationwide effort this fall to install 100,000 smoke alarms in 40 cities across the country. The initiative is called Sound the Alarm. Save a Life.  You can join the American Red Cross to Sound the Alarm about home fire safety and help save lives by  learning more at soundthealarm.org/neo.

 

 

Red Cross Fire and Ice Ball

Fundraising Continues with KeyBank Challenge

A message from CEO Mike Parks

Thank you to our amazing Red Cross supporters who helped us host a successful “Fire & Ice Ball” on Saturday, March 25, 2017!  We couldn’t have pulled this off without all of your efforts…from table sponsorships, donations of auction items and programs,  sharing invitations with friends and family, and dedicating your evening to our lifesaving mission…it was a wonderful celebration!

To those of you in attendance, we hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did!  We certainly missed all of our friends who couldn’t join us, but we sincerely appreciate your support from afar.

For all of our Red Cross friends, we hope you will plan to join us at a future event, blood drive or neighborhood fire safety walk soon.  We could not fulfill the humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross here in Northeast Ohio without your dedication to, and support of, our mission!

A special thank you to Beth Mooney of KeyBank for graciously accepting our Steve D. Bullock Humanitarian Award for 2017.  We are truly honored and grateful for the Inspirational Match of $25,000 that Beth announced on behalf of “Operation-Save-A-Life”.   Those funds will help our collaborative efforts to install new smoke alarms in every home, one neighborhood at a time.

If you would like to support “Operation-Save-A-Life” and take part in this Inspirational Match Campaign, please log onto  https://www.redcross.org/arcneohio-pub   to make a donation on behalf of the American Red Cross and KeyBank.   Please feel free to share this message with your friends.  Thank you for your generosity and commitment to the American Red Cross of Greater Cleveland!

Best regards…Mike

Here are some photos from the Ball.  See dozens more in our Flickr album here.

American Red Cross Board Holds First Combined Meeting

Two Former Leaders Honored with Lifetime Board Memberships

The Boards of Directors for American Red Cross Blood Services, Northern Ohio Region and the Greater Cleveland Chapter have merged, forming one combined American Red Cross Board in Northeast Ohio.

During the inaugural meeting of the merged board, two past leaders were awarded honorary Lifetime Board Memberships.

Photo Credit: Jim McIntyre/American Red Cross

Steve D. Bullock, who began his career with the American Red Cross in 1962, served as Chief Executive Officer for the Greater Cleveland Chapter from 1982-1999.  He was then selected by Elizabeth Dole to succeed her as acting president of the national American Red Cross.

Mary-Alice Frank started her American Red Cross career in 1979, and was named CEO of the Greater Cleveland Chapter in 1999. She went on to serve as CEO of the Northeast Ohio Region when the national Red Cross merged its chapters into regions in 2011, and held the position until leaving the Red Cross in 2014. She was unable to attend the first combined board meeting due to travel commitments.

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In addition to the Honorary Lifetime Memberships,  current board member  Chris Mapes, CEO of Lincoln Electric was presented with the inaugural Corporate Partnership award.

New members serving on the combined American Red Cross board include Kerry Bubolz, President of Business Operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers; Micki Byrnes, President and General Manager of WKYC; Carrie F. Fanelly, General Manager of Commercial Operations for Dominion East Ohio; Susan M. Fuehrer, Medical Center Director for the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center; Matthew T. Garrity, Executive Vice President of Home Savings; H. W. Birkett Gibson, President of Birkettmire, Ltd; John B. Hexter, Consultant for Hexter Consulting; Sally L. Levine, Principal at Levine Architecture & Design, Ltd; Natalie McAllister, Regional Director at Global Prairie; Rick Taylor, Corporate Vice President EHS at Parker Hannifin; and Shawn M. Riley, Managing Partner at McDonald Hopkins LLC.

Mr. Riley was appointed Board Chairman, succeeding David Doll of UBS Financial Services. Laura Hauser of Hauser Law, LLC was reappointed as Board Secretary.

You don’t have to work in finance or law to volunteer with the American Red Cross.  More than 800 residents in Northeast Ohio are Red Cross volunteers, helping their neighbors recover following home fires, guiding donors at blood drives, even taking pictures and shooting video at various Red Cross events.  If you are interested in volunteering, visit our website: redcross.org/neo and click on “Volunteer” on the left side of the screen. You will be dropped directly into the application process. You may also call 216-431-3328 or email, NEOvolunteer@redcross.org.

The next meeting of the combined American Red Cross Board in Northeast Ohio will be held in March, 2016.