CARMEL — The American Red Cross of the Central Coast honored 15 individual volunteers, a volunteer team, three other organizations, and one business at its recent Volunteer Recognition Dinner for Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties. The annual event was held at Seascape Golf Club in Aptos.
The evening’s top award, the Clara Barton Award, was given to Janet Packer of Santa Cruz County (Aptos). The award, named after the founder of the American Red Cross, recognizes a volunteer for service in a series of leadership positions held over a number of years.
Michele Averill, left, CEO of the Central Coast Chapter, is pictured with Janet Packer, recipient of the Clara Barton Award. • Photo Credit: Jim Hobbs
Packer has been a Red Cross volunteer since the organization’s massive response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, she has deployed to more than 30 national-level disaster responses, including to Hurricane Sandy, for which her service included driving a Red Cross emergency response vehicle cross country.
Closer to home, Packer has most recently filled the role of Client Casework Lead for the Central Coast Chapter, organizing the assistance that she and her fellow Red Cross volunteers provide to residents whose lives are turned upside down by fires, floods, and other local and regional disasters. Working out of the chapter’s Santa Cruz office, Packer is highly regarded for her tireless commitment to the Red Cross — and for her kind and caring commitment to the many people the organization serves.
Other award recipients honored at this year’s dinner include:
- Administration and Support Award: Linnea Dunn of Santa Cruz County (Bonny Doon)
- Biomedical Services Award: Kelly Donnelly-May of San Benito County (San Juan Bautista)
- Biomedical Services, Volunteer of the Year Award: Anne Leslie of Santa Cruz County (Aptos) and Cindy Snow of San Benito County (Hollister)
- Community Engagement Award: CISNE (Monterey County Immigrant Service Network of Empowerment)
- Collaboration Award: Skye Barcus of Santa Cruz County (Ben Lomond) and Donna Webster of Santa Cruz County (Royal Oaks)
- Disaster Cycle Services, Outstanding Support Award: Suresh Sethuraman of Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz)
- Disaster Cycle Services, Exceptional Response Award: Danny Webster of Monterey County (Marina)
- Disaster Cycle Services, Extraordinary Commitment and Dedication: Tiki Dellamora of Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz)
- Disaster Cycle Services, Exceptional Leadership: Dan Kemper of Monterey County (Prunedale)
- Good Neighbor and Partnership Award: Capital Insurance Group (CIG) of Monterey County
- International Services Award: Amy Stocker of Monterey County (Monterey)
- New Volunteer Award: Shannon Ingraham of San Benito County (Hollister)
- Service to Armed Services Award: Stanley Jacques of Monterey County (Salinas)
- Teamwork Award: The Central Coast Chapter’s Disaster Mental Health Team, representing Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
- Volunteer Supervisor Award: Sue Pierce of Santa Cruz County (Los Gatos)
- Volunteer of the Year Award: Christine Brown of Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz)
- Youth Services Award: Middlebury Institute of International Studies; University of California, Santa Cruz
In addition, a number of volunteers were honored at the event for the large number of hours they devoted to the Red Cross in service during the 2017 calendar year.
“While the annual event spotlights a number of key volunteers, we recognize that all of our volunteers play a vital role in responding to disasters, preparing our community, and supporting all Red Cross lines of service locally and beyond,” said Michele Averill, CEO of the Central Coast Chapter. “It is truly an honor to get to work with such dedicated and wonderful people. All of our volunteers give selflessly of their time, and the Red Cross would not be able to provide the help and support we do without them.”
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Dane Lobb, a member of the Central Coast Chapter’s Board of Directors, joined Averill in presenting the volunteer awards at this year’s recognition dinner.