January 25, 2008

American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley seeks nominations for local real heroes

American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter is calling on Silicon Valley residents, companies and organizations to nominate individuals who reside or work in Santa Clara County and whose extraordinary acts of courage or kindness make them a hero to be honored at the 2nd Annual Santa Clara Valley Real Heroes Breakfast on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose. The deadline to submit nominations is March 13, 2008.

“A hero can be someone who bravely acts in a time of immediate need, or someone who simply lives his or her life in a way that shows they care for those around them. Real heroes are ordinary people whose actions demonstrate the potential that is in all of us. If someone is a hero in your eyes, I encourage you to nominate them," says Honorary Event Chair, Peter Hero, a senior advisor to the CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Nominations for the heroic acts of local residents that took place between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007 are being accepted in the following categories:

- Animal Rescue Hero - 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.

- Education Hero - An adult or youth who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others in a school or other educational setting.

- Good Samaritan - Adult (21 years old and up) - An adult who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.

- Good Samaritan - Youth (Under the age of 21) - A youth who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.

- Law Enforcement Hero - A professional law enforcement officer (Sheriff, Police, FBI, Highway Patrol, etc.) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.

- Medical Professional Hero - A medical professional (doctor, nurse, EMT/paramedics, hospital/clinic staff, etc.) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.

- Military Hero - A member of the armed forces (active, reserve, retired, commissioned or non-commissioned) whose life-saving action during active duty status went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.

- Professional Rescuer Hero - A professional rescuer (firefighter, lifeguard, etc.) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.

- Workplace Hero - An individual who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others at his or her place of employment or on a job site.

Real Hero Award recipients will be chosen by a selection committee of leading members of the Silicon Valley community. 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 Silicon Valley. All nominees must work or reside in the Santa Clara County; the heroic acts may have occurred elsewhere. Self-nominations are not permitted. All nominations will be subject to further verification and validation. All nominee information will be shared with the Heroes selection committee and the general public with a two-minute biographical video.

Nominations for Real Heroes Awards can now be submitted to the American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter online at www.santaclaravalley.redcross.org. You can also download a PDF of the nomination form from the web site and mail the completed form to Real Heroes Breakfast Selection Committee, American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter, 2731 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134 or fax the completed form to (408) 577-2050. The American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter must receive nominations by March 13, 2008.