Nominate OC Heroes: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage

In November of 2017, Santa Margarita Catholic High School juniors Alex Schrier and Jeffrey Bounds were on their way home from a football game. It was a night like any other- until they witnessed an intense car crash in their neighborhood near Coto de Caza.

"Thanks to Alex and Jeffrey’s quick actions, along with their neighbor, the crash victims were successfully pulled to safety. “It was the right thing to do,” said both teens.

“You can’t plan for that. You have to have a good heart and when someone’s in need, help them,” said Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi.

The American Red Cross honored Alex Schrier and Jeffrey Bounds with the Youth Hero Award for their quick- thinking and lifesaving actions last year at the Orange County Heroes Luncheon.

Now, it is your chance to nominate a hero, an “ordinary” person with extraordinary courage.

If you know someone who has saved a life, helped a neighbor in need, or made a difference in Orange County, the American Red Cross Serving Orange County asks you to nominate them for the 4th Annual Orange County Heroes Luncheon.

The Orange County Heroes Luncheon, hosted by KTLA’s Doug Kolk, honors local individuals who have made a personal commitment to creating safer and stronger communities and providing help when disaster strikes - in Orange County and beyond.

Award recipients will be honored at the event on Friday, May 3, 2019, at Hotel Irvine.

“Orange County is home to many whose deeds of courage often go unnoticed,” said Linda Voss, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Desert to the Sea Region. “We need the public’s help to identify everyday heroes in our community who we can recognize for their contributions.”

• Animal Welfare Hero: Presented to an animal that has protected a human or another animal in a time of need, to a person who has rescued an animal from a traumatic situation, to an animal that is making a difference to impact someone’s life, or to an individual that cares for animals.
• Community Hero: Presented to a person that has demonstrated outstanding heroism, skill, commitment or resourcefulness in attempt to save one or more lives by utilizing skills aligned with those taught in American Red Cross programs such as CPR/AED/First Aid or other health and preparedness training.
• Corporate Hero: A business or organization that has contributed significantly to the American Red Cross mission and/or made a positive impact in our community.
• First Responder Hero: Presented to a professional or volunteer serving as a law enforcement official, firefighter, first responder or responder in the medical or healthcare field. This award is presented to a person or persons who has exhibited heroism in their response to an emergency, on or off-duty, through acts of courage or selflessness.
• Gift of Life Hero: An individual or group that supports the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross through blood or platelet donations or inspiring others to give blood or platelets.
• Service to the Armed Forces Hero: Presented to a member of the armed forces (active or retired, commissioned or non-commissioned) whose heroic action(s) demonstrated exceptional courage or improved the welfare of the military community. This award may be presented posthumously and may also be awarded to ROTC members or civilians/organizations that have made a significant impact on the military community.
• Water Rescue Hero: Presented to a lifeguard, first responder or ordinary citizen whose quick-thinking actions prevented a serious water-related injury or drowning.
• Youth Hero (age 18 or younger): Presented to a youth in the community who has demonstrated courage, initiative and/or compassion in the spirit of the American Red Cross in service to another individual or the welfare of the region.

Heroes are nominated by the public and are chosen by an awards selection committee, who select honorees based on the degree to which their actions embody the spirit and the mission of the Red Cross.

• All nominees must work or reside in Orange County. The heroic act may have occurred elsewhere.
• The heroic act must be either an ongoing commitment to the community for more than one year or have occurred 12 months preceding the Heroes event.
• All nominees must be able to attend the Heroes Luncheon and must be willing to participate in video interviews and photographs for media and promotional reasons (certain exceptions apply).

• Nominations are due by Friday, February 15, 2019.
• Submit via Online Nomination Form:redcross.org/ocheroes
• Submit via Email: Download the nomination form at redcross.org/ocheroes and email completed nomination form to Events.DTS@redcross.org.
• Submit via Mail: Download the nomination form at redcross.org/ocheroes and mail completed nomination form and any supporting materials to:

600 Parkcenter Dr

For more information about the OrangeCounty Heroes Luncheon, please contact us at Events.DTS@redcross.org or (714) 481- 4444. Join the conversation online and get event updates by following the local Red Cross at @RedCrossDTS on Facebook and Twitter and using the hashtag #OCHeroesLuncheon.

Learn more about the American Red Cross Desert to the Sea Region, which serves Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, at redcross.org/dts.

American Red Cross Photo