Good Samartians Honored
Youth: Cody Hicks, Santa Rosa
Law Enforcement: Beverly Liberman, Santa Rosa
Medical: Laura Roehrick, Santa Rosa
Good Samaritan, Adult: Agostino “Marco” Aimo, Rohnert Park
Good Samaritan, Senior: Mary Isaak, Petaluma (deceased)
Military: Army Specialist Ryan Sobel, Petaluma
Animal: Lee Justice and Robert Hope, Petaluma
Rescue Professional: Jan Wasson Smith, Boonville
Educator: Rebecca Kress, Ukiah
Mendocino County Hero of the Year: Eric Glassey, Willits
Red Cross honors heroes in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties
Stories of daring rescues and dedication
A young woman who donated her kidney to her volleyball coach, a man who helped two teenagers survive a terrible car accident, and an Anderson Valley volunteer who eagerly responds to life-threatening emergencies are just a few of the 10 stories. More than 100 individuals from two counties were nominated as heroes this year.
The Real Heroes Awards honors extraordinary compassion and commitment of community members, and at the same time, it is the largest fundraiser of the year for the local Red Cross chapter. Funds donated at the event build up the relief fund that covers disaster responses in two counties and other essential services.
THE AWARD-WINNING HEROES AND THEIR STORIES
Good Samaritan, Youth: 14-year-old Cody Hicks appreciated the tremendous guidance and encouragement she received from her volleyball coach, Nancy Archer-Crofut,. Nine years later, when Archer-Crofut needed a kidney transplant, it seemed like a miracle when Hicks turned out to be a match. At the age of 22, Hicks donated her kidney, saving the life of her friend and mentor.
Good Samaritan, Adult: Agostino (Marco) Aimo, a 50-year-old nursing student, was the only bystander willing to volunteer as a car accident threatened to turn tragic. With the car on fire, he dragged a disoriented passenger from the car, and a few minutes later rescued the unconscious driver with help from a police officer.
Good Samaritan, Senior: The late Mary Isaak left a huge legacy in Petaluma. Thanks to her work as co-founder and leader of Committee on the Shelterless, or COTS, approximately 2,700 homeless children and 10,000 homeless adults have slept inside during 700,000 bednights, and have eaten 350,000 meals.
Law Enforcement: Beverly Liberman, Director of the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Academy of Sonoma County, ensures that all those who want to become chaplains are trained with compassion and understanding. Their work is demanding: when victims of crimes, tragic accidents, and sudden deaths need emotional support, they turn to trained chaplains. Beverly is hardworking, caring, and skilled in both her leadership and her own chaplain work, inspiring others to continue to perform this difficult, important work.
Educator: For 17 years, Rebecca Kress has been on a mission to keep the Russian River clean. Thanks to Kress’ ceaseless drive to educate others, volunteers with her group Russian River Unlimited have removed nearly 6,000 tires, tons of appliances and cars, mountains of plastic, and toxic waste from the Russian River.
Medical: Nurse Laura Roehrick developed a unique way to heal feet that are at risk of amputation, due to diabetes. Last year, she went to Tanzania to donate medical supplies, and teach others how to treat diabetic foot problems. Next, in Zanzibar, she will work with Dr. Fadhill Abdalla to start a model foot care program that will keep people’s feet, and ultimately their lives, healthy.
Animal: Lee Justice and Robert Pope, a retired couple with a love for horses, are the founders of Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center. There, people who suffer from any of more than 60 different kinds of physical or mental disabilities ride therapy horses as part of their rehabilitation. Justice and Pope lovingly guide volunteers, staff, and parents, they all participate in the healing of hundreds of disabled children and adults each year.
Military: Army Specialist Ryan Sobel was serving in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger. One day, as he was riding in a Humvee, the vehicle drove over and exploded a buried bomb. Despite his serious injuries, when Sobel regained consciousness, he got into another Humvee to help other Rangers who had been ambushed by Taliban fighters. Sobel, who is still in rehabilitation from his serious injuries in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, was awarded the Purple Heart.
Rescue Professional: In her work for Anderson Valley Ambulance and as Battalion Chief of the Anderson Valley Fire Department, Jan Wasson Smith responds to emergency calls, trains volunteers, and helps others deal with the stress of emergency situations. She created a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team that has made a major difference in helping emergency volunteers to continue their difficult, important work.
Mendocino County Hero of the Year: As Board President of three non-profit organizations, Eric Glassey spends countless hours each week guiding organizations so that they can make life better for the people they help. He has served as a Hospice volunteer, and was the leader of a prison ministry at a California prison camp. He’s generous in every way: last November, he donated a kidney to his wife Alison.
Significant in-kind donations have been contributed by Barlow Printing, Star Shots Photography, Roaring Mouse Productions, Roberta Rankin, and H & S Information Systems.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, SONOMA & MENDOCINO COUNTIES
The American Red Cross is a neutral, humanitarian organization that provides relief to victims of disasters, and prepares people to prevent and respond to emergencies. The Chapter, like all Red Cross chapters, is self-sustaining and receives no funding from the national organization. All disaster assistance provided by the Chapter is free and is made possible by voluntary donations of time and money by the people of Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Donations can be made online at sonomacounty.redcross.org, by mail to American Red Cross, 5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, or by phone at (707) 577-7627 (707-463-0112 local call for Mendocino County).
Law Enforcement: Beverly Liberman, Santa Rosa
Medical: Laura Roehrick, Santa Rosa
Good Samaritan, Adult: Agostino “Marco” Aimo, Rohnert Park
Good Samaritan, Senior: Mary Isaak, Petaluma (deceased)
Military: Army Specialist Ryan Sobel, Petaluma
Animal: Lee Justice and Robert Hope, Petaluma
Rescue Professional: Jan Wasson Smith, Boonville
Educator: Rebecca Kress, Ukiah
Mendocino County Hero of the Year: Eric Glassey, Willits
Red Cross honors heroes in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties
Stories of daring rescues and dedication
A young woman who donated her kidney to her volleyball coach, a man who helped two teenagers survive a terrible car accident, and an Anderson Valley volunteer who eagerly responds to life-threatening emergencies are just a few of the 10 stories. More than 100 individuals from two counties were nominated as heroes this year.
The Real Heroes Awards honors extraordinary compassion and commitment of community members, and at the same time, it is the largest fundraiser of the year for the local Red Cross chapter. Funds donated at the event build up the relief fund that covers disaster responses in two counties and other essential services.
THE AWARD-WINNING HEROES AND THEIR STORIES
Good Samaritan, Youth: 14-year-old Cody Hicks appreciated the tremendous guidance and encouragement she received from her volleyball coach, Nancy Archer-Crofut,. Nine years later, when Archer-Crofut needed a kidney transplant, it seemed like a miracle when Hicks turned out to be a match. At the age of 22, Hicks donated her kidney, saving the life of her friend and mentor.
Good Samaritan, Adult: Agostino (Marco) Aimo, a 50-year-old nursing student, was the only bystander willing to volunteer as a car accident threatened to turn tragic. With the car on fire, he dragged a disoriented passenger from the car, and a few minutes later rescued the unconscious driver with help from a police officer.
Good Samaritan, Senior: The late Mary Isaak left a huge legacy in Petaluma. Thanks to her work as co-founder and leader of Committee on the Shelterless, or COTS, approximately 2,700 homeless children and 10,000 homeless adults have slept inside during 700,000 bednights, and have eaten 350,000 meals.
Law Enforcement: Beverly Liberman, Director of the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Academy of Sonoma County, ensures that all those who want to become chaplains are trained with compassion and understanding. Their work is demanding: when victims of crimes, tragic accidents, and sudden deaths need emotional support, they turn to trained chaplains. Beverly is hardworking, caring, and skilled in both her leadership and her own chaplain work, inspiring others to continue to perform this difficult, important work.
Educator: For 17 years, Rebecca Kress has been on a mission to keep the Russian River clean. Thanks to Kress’ ceaseless drive to educate others, volunteers with her group Russian River Unlimited have removed nearly 6,000 tires, tons of appliances and cars, mountains of plastic, and toxic waste from the Russian River.
Medical: Nurse Laura Roehrick developed a unique way to heal feet that are at risk of amputation, due to diabetes. Last year, she went to Tanzania to donate medical supplies, and teach others how to treat diabetic foot problems. Next, in Zanzibar, she will work with Dr. Fadhill Abdalla to start a model foot care program that will keep people’s feet, and ultimately their lives, healthy.
Animal: Lee Justice and Robert Pope, a retired couple with a love for horses, are the founders of Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center. There, people who suffer from any of more than 60 different kinds of physical or mental disabilities ride therapy horses as part of their rehabilitation. Justice and Pope lovingly guide volunteers, staff, and parents, they all participate in the healing of hundreds of disabled children and adults each year.
Military: Army Specialist Ryan Sobel was serving in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger. One day, as he was riding in a Humvee, the vehicle drove over and exploded a buried bomb. Despite his serious injuries, when Sobel regained consciousness, he got into another Humvee to help other Rangers who had been ambushed by Taliban fighters. Sobel, who is still in rehabilitation from his serious injuries in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, was awarded the Purple Heart.
Rescue Professional: In her work for Anderson Valley Ambulance and as Battalion Chief of the Anderson Valley Fire Department, Jan Wasson Smith responds to emergency calls, trains volunteers, and helps others deal with the stress of emergency situations. She created a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team that has made a major difference in helping emergency volunteers to continue their difficult, important work.
Mendocino County Hero of the Year: As Board President of three non-profit organizations, Eric Glassey spends countless hours each week guiding organizations so that they can make life better for the people they help. He has served as a Hospice volunteer, and was the leader of a prison ministry at a California prison camp. He’s generous in every way: last November, he donated a kidney to his wife Alison.
Significant in-kind donations have been contributed by Barlow Printing, Star Shots Photography, Roaring Mouse Productions, Roberta Rankin, and H & S Information Systems.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, SONOMA & MENDOCINO COUNTIES
The American Red Cross is a neutral, humanitarian organization that provides relief to victims of disasters, and prepares people to prevent and respond to emergencies. The Chapter, like all Red Cross chapters, is self-sustaining and receives no funding from the national organization. All disaster assistance provided by the Chapter is free and is made possible by voluntary donations of time and money by the people of Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Donations can be made online at sonomacounty.redcross.org, by mail to American Red Cross, 5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, or by phone at (707) 577-7627 (707-463-0112 local call for Mendocino County).
Labels: HEROES
