NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 2, 2010 – The Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross will honor local heroes at its 2010 Heroes of Greater New Haven celebration on Thursday, March 11. The heroes, nominated by the public last year and selected in 10 categories, include honorees from Guilford, Hamden, Killingworth, New Haven, Wallingford and West Haven. Kristen Cusato, Morning News Anchor for WTNH News Channel 8 will Emcee the event.
The March 11 event, supported by statewide co-sponsors The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and Webster Bank, with local sponsors Wachovia Bank, A Wells Fargo Company, recognizes individuals whose actions embody the mission of the American Red Cross – helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
“Red Cross volunteers, nearly 97% of our workforce, go above and beyond to comfort and support neighbors in the wake of disasters,” said American Red Cross Connecticut Region CEO Dianne Auger. “Our Heroes event celebrates the people in our community who do the extraordinary in service to others.”
The Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross serves communities with disaster response, preparedness education, support of blood collection and assistance to military families. The work is done largely by volunteers and with private donations.
“We rely on the public for support through donations of time, money and blood,” Auger said. “We are grateful to The Hartford, Webster Bank and Wachovia Bank for sponsoring this event, which celebrates the heroic spirit in our communities.”
”For 200 years, The Hartford has been committed to serving the communities in which we operate and we are proud to partner with the Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross to recognize and honor our local heroes,” said Alan Kreczko, executive vice president and general counsel of The Hartford, and Connecticut Blood Services board member. “We applaud the efforts of these local heroes for their dedicated and tireless work supporting our community.”
“Webster has been a longtime partner of the American Red Cross, which, like the Heroes being honored in March, lends a helping hand when people need it most,” said Jeffrey Klaus, Webster Bank’s regional president for the Connecticut shoreline. “Webster is proud to sponsor these events as part of our ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities we serve. And we salute those being honored for their selflessness.”
Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company, is pleased to sponsor the Heroes of the Red Cross event in Greater New Haven," said Joe Kirk, regional president for New York and Connecticut. "Not only are we proud to support the Red Cross, which is our nation's premier emergency relief organization, but we are also delighted to recognize the heroic efforts of people to be honored this year, whose acts of courage inspire us all."
The Connecticut Chapter’s 2010 Heroes celebration will be held at the Omni Hotel, 155 Temple Street in New Haven, on March 11. Registration is at 7:15 a.m. and the program begins at 7:30 a.m. Tickets for this event are $35.
Reservations can be made by calling Laura Campbell at (203) 874-2531 x19 or via e-mail to Laura.Campbell@ctredcross.org.
