Imperial Valley News

El Centro, California - Each year we celebrate our annual Real Heroes Breakfast, a community celebration to honor citizens in San Diego and Imperial Counties who have made a difference through their individual acts of courage. At this breakfast, the American Red Cross will honor local heroes for their courageous, life-saving actions and dedication toward helping others. 

The Real Heroes Breakfast grew out of a desire to sponsor an event closely related to the mission of the American Red Cross. The Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. This is done through the simple, yet powerful, process of one person putting their needs aside to help another. Across the nation, over one million Red Cross volunteers do this each day. What better way to celebrate that spirit of humanitarianism than by honoring those individuals who have shown courage, kindness, and unselfish character through their acts of heroism?

Who is a Real Hero? A Real Hero may be a friend or family member, a firefighter or police officer or a child who saves an animal’s life. A Real Hero may be a professional trained to respond or simply a Good Samaritan whose First Aid/ CPR training or other actions saved a life. Local heroes will be honored in the following categories: Adult, Company, Law Enforcement, Media, Military, Animal Rescue, Fire and Rescue, Lifeguard, Medical and Youth.

Here in Imperial Valley, dedicated volunteers contribute their time and energies to assisting those in need. In order to celebrate this spirit of humanitarism, the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross hosts an event that honors individuals who have shown courage, dedication and unselfish character by their acts of heroism in our community. Past honorees out of the Imperial Valley have been in the following categories; Youth Jose Garcia from Brawley, Law Enforcement El Centro Sector BORSTAR Team, Company United States Gypsum, Media Brad Wills, Adult Amanda & Matt Hagen, among others.

Sylvia Preciado, Manager of the Imperial Valley Service Center of the American Red Cross said, "The Imperial Valley has been represented in all but one of the six REAL HEROES Breakfast,"  Preciado continued, "It is my sincere hope that Valleyites will once again step up and nominate a formidable candidate of the many we have among walking among us."

The nomination process is an easy one.  Follow this link to Nominate a Real Hero. For a nomination form, please call (760) 352-4541 Ext 6221.

The American Red Cross will host a breakfast to honor 10 individuals who have taken action in a time of crisis to help others and show extraordinary human compassion. The Red Cross will honor those who have demonstrated outstanding community service in the following categories:

• Adult - An adult (18 and older) who used lifesaving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.
• Animal - An animal that has protected a human or another animal in a time of need, or a person who has rescued an animal from a traumatic situation.
• Company – A business in our area that has administered exceptional safety and preparedness measures to protect staff and prepare for emergencies.
• Fire and Rescue – A professional rescuer (firefighter, EMS personnel, etc.) whose lifesaving action went beyond the scope of his or her job to help another in critical need.
• Law Enforcement - A professional law enforcement officer whose lifesaving action went beyond the scope of his or her job to help another in critical need.
• Lifeguard - A lifeguard whose lifesaving action went beyond the scope of his or her job to help another in critical need.
• Media – A reporter, anchor, news station, publication, etc., who went above and beyond to encourage safety and preparedness. 
• Medical – A medical professional whose lifesaving action went beyond the scope of his or her job to help another in critical need.
• Military - A member of the armed forces (active, reserve, retired, commissioned or noncommissioned) whose lifesaving action during active-duty status went beyond the scope of his or her job to help another in critical need.
• Youth – A youth (age 17 and under) who used lifesaving skills or quick thinking to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.

Media are encouraged to submit nominations.

Sponsoring and Attending the Real Heroes Breakfast The Real Heroes Breakfast is a wonderful opportunity for communities to recognize everyday people who are striving to make a difference in someone else’s life. We invite you to join us in honoring these courageous individuals at this inspirational community event. Sponsorships and tables are available.  All proceeds from this event will help the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross fulfill its mission of preventing, preparing for, and responding to local emergencies in our community.

For more information please contact Sylvia Preciado at (760) 352-4541 Ext 6221 or visit our Chapter website at www.sdarc.org