The American Red Cross will honor individuals from Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for their outstanding acts of heroism and humanitarian service at the 2021 Inland Empire Heroes Awards, which will take place virtually on Thursday, March 11th.
“We are proud to recognize ordinary people with extraordinary courage from across the Inland Empire that are saving lives and creating safer communities,” noted Lois Beckman, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Riverside County, in a press release.
Honorees are as follows:
Animal Welfare Hero Award: Amber Schlieder, ARE Animal Rescue - Hemet
Amber Schlieder leads ARE Animal Rescue, an organization dedicated to saving animals at risk of euthanasia in the community which has found permanent homes for more than 2,000 pets, despite the difficulties of 2020.
Disaster Services Hero Award: Ginger Bryk, Yucaipa Animal Placement Society – Yucaipa
Ginger Bryk of Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS); engaged her network to save and shelter dozens of animals displaced by the El Dorado Fire, as well as during the Sandalwood Fire in 2019.
First Responder Hero Award: Scott Pinkerton and John Briner – Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Station Citizens on Patrol (COP's) Scott Pinkerton and John Briner were volunteers on patrol on January 18th, 2020 when they observed a family in distress. The family had disregarded several thin ice warnings and ventured out onto the ice to play. All three family members plunged into the freezing water, struggling for several minutes to escape and quickly becoming exhausted.
Pinkerton and Briner immediately responded to the shoreline with their rescue rope throw bags and pulled all three family members to safety, saving their lives.
Gift of Life Hero Award: William Steele – Beaumont
76-year-old William Steele makes the regular commute to Pomona to donate platelets with the Red Cross every seven days, sitting in the donor chair for two to three hours at a time. He has now donated more than 800 platelet units, helping thousands of hospital patients.
Good Samaritan Hero Award: Michael Guzman and Jose Marcia – Cathedral City
On January 24, 2020, 15-year-old Mia Castillo was playing soccer at Cathedral City High School when she suffered a life-threatening event. Without hesitation, Jose Macias, a Certified Athletic Trainer for Cat City High, and Michael Guzman, a Licensed Vocational nurse who was serving as the game referee, came to her aid and initiated life-saving CPR, ultimately saving Mia’s life.
Service to the Armed Forces Hero Award: Octavio Sanchez – Ontario
Sanchez served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was severely injured by an IED blast in Iraq, leaving him with third-degree burns over 70 percent of his face and body. His right hand was amputated, he lost the use of his left hand, and his nose was burned off. He was awarded a Purple Heart, and now, five days a week, Sanchez is at FrontSight Military Outreach as Executive Director, answering calls, assisting members and doing anything he can to support veterans as they navigate the return to civilian life.
Youth Hero Award: Zubin and Tenzing Carvalho – Hemet
Fourteen year Zubin Carvalho and his 12-year-old brother Tenzing use their background in robotics and the 3D printer they had in their garage to print reusable face shields. They've spent more than 500 hours putting together face shield kits, sanitizing, fixing 3D printers, and teaching other students how to 3D-print PPE.
Spirit of Hope Award: Charles Morton, Big Bear Mountain Hotshots, in memorial – Big Bear
Charles Morton was a Big Bear Interagency Hotshot squad boss who served with the U.S. Forest Service for most of his 18-year firefighting career. He was killed in the line of duty while conducting fire suppression efforts on the El Dorado Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest on September 17, 2020.
Corporate Hero Award: Sysco Riverside – Riverside
Sysco Riverside is a steadfast supporter of the Red Cross mission in the Inland Empire, hosting blood drives, donating essential items during disasters, and more.