As a community leader in emergency preparedness, prevention and response, the American Red Cross honors individuals whose extraordinary acts of courage and kindness make them real heroes. Each year we honor local heroes in ten categories: 

• Good Samaritin- An adult (18 +) who used lifesaving skills to save or attempt to save the lives of others or has helped to improve the welfare of their community.

• Youth Samaritan – A youth (age 17 and under) who has gone to the aid of those in need and/or has helped to improve the welfare of their community.

• Animal Rescue - 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.

• 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.

• Medical Hero – 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/her job to help another in critical need or improve the welfare of the military community.

• Spirit of the Red Cross - A member that has........

• Workplace Safety- A member that has........

• 911- A member that has........

• Blood Donation- A member that has........

Heroes are selected based on the degree to which their acts of heroism uphold the values of the American Red Cross and leave a lasting and positive impact on the residents of our local community.