FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2008

Contact: Kristen Giuffre, Associate, Development & Communications
858-309-1273

(San Diego) – The American Red Cross is accepting nominations from San Diego and Imperial County residents, companies and media for the 6th annual Real Heroes Breakfast, scheduled for Friday, September 26th at the USS Midway in San Diego.

Through July 1, nominations for Real Heroes can be submitted to the local Red Cross for any heroic act that occurred between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008. 

The American Red Cross will host a breakfast to honor 10 individuals who have taken action in a time of crisis to help others and show extraordinary human compassion. The Red Cross will honor those who have demonstrated outstanding community service in the following categories:

• Adult – An adult (18 and older) who used lifesaving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.
• Animal - 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.
• Company – A business in our area that has administered exceptional safety and preparedness measures to protect staff and prepare for emergencies.
• 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.
• Lifeguard - A lifeguard whose lifesaving action went beyond the scope of his or her job to help another in critical need.
• Media – A reporter, anchor, news station, publication, etc., who went above and beyond to encourage safety and preparedness. 
• Medical – 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 or her job to help another in critical need.
• Youth – A youth (age 17 and under) who used lifesaving skills or quick thinking to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.

Nominations can submitted online here. For a nomination form, please call 858-309-1273.

Media are encouraged to submit nominations.

About the American Red Cross, San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter

The American Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on the generosity of the American people to provide our programs and services. The San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter is leading the effort to make San Diego and Imperial Counties 'America's most prepared communities.' With the public's ongoing support, we provide life saving preparedness training; disaster relief services; 24-hour emergency services to deployed military personnel and their families; and nutritional counseling through our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.  For more information about or to support the chapter please contact 858-309-1200 or visit www.sdarc.org.

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