Business Wire - November 14, 2008

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Red Cross of Greater Cleveland today honored 10 community heroes for acts of courage and compassion to others. In addition, Dr. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, was awarded the organization’s Community Leader Award for his humanitarian work on behalf of Greater Cleveland.

Past Community Leader Award winners include Senator George V. Voinovich and Reverend Otis and Edwina Moss.

This year’s heroes were nominated by the community and were chosen by a panel of judges. Their stories are compelling:

Colleen Brown

Community Outreach Specialist

FBI, Cleveland office

• Colleen runs the FBI Citizen’s Academy, organizes annual Hate Crimes Conference, works with Night Out Against Crime, tutors students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and provides training to groups on internet crimes and how to keep children safe from on-line predators.

Ted Huffman

Retired firefighter, City of Cleveland Hts.; Fire Academy Commander, Tri-C and volunteer instructor,Ted Huffman has over 32 years of experience as a Firefighter and Paramedic in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Mr. Huffman’s extensive background includes serving as Acting Lieutenant, Firefighter and Paramedic for the Cleveland Heights Fire Department. At the age of 40 years old Ted was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, probably contracting the disease while attending to one of the over 15,000 patients that he helped during his career. Ted retired early from the Fire Service to become Commander of the Fire Training Academy at Cuyahoga Community College, where he helps train new firefighters today.

Norma Johnson

Mother of five

• Norma Johnson was walking to a bus stop in November, 2007 when she heard screams for help from a house on E. 75 street in Ward 12 in Cleveland which was on fire. She scaled the fence surrounding the home’s back yard, and saw a father and his children trapped on an upper-level porch. After calling 9-1-1, Norma caught each of the children -- two 3-year-old twins and their 7- and 9-year old sisters, as they were dropped by their dad. Her selfless act saved the lives of four children.

Jina Gonzalez

Young adult with HIV

• Jina Gonzalez was born with HIV in 1988 and lost her mother to the disease when she was 11 years old. Over consecutive years as a camper at Camp Sunrise, Jina was able to trust her peers and her counselors and discuss living with HIV. When her friend, Ana Rodriquez, a teenage HIV-educator, passed away, Jina developed the strength and courage to continue Ana’s legacy and speak out in the community. Jina has returned to Camp Sunrise as a counselor, helping other HIV-impacted youth, speaking out about living with HIV to help decrease the stigma of this disease within our society.

Angelia Szekely

Bay Village teenager

• Angelia and her family were visiting her grandfather at his Rocky River home when her little brother Nicholas got curious about a bottle of heart medication. Angelia observed that her brother had opened the bottle and may have ingested some pills. Having recently completed a Red Cross babysitting course, Angelia ran to her brother, opened his mouth and pulled the pills out, while calling for her father. Her quick thinking and smart actions likely saved her little brother’s life.

Anthony Timko

Retired machinist, Picker International

Retired school crossing guard

• Anthony Timko had retired from his job as a machinist at Picker International after suffering a heart attack, and took the job as a crossing guard in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel school. After 11 years, Anthony was a day away from retiring as a school crossing guard when he saw some young children begin to cross Detroit Avenue and West 70th. He pushed them to safety, throwing himself in front of a car, which struck him. He saved the lives of the children on his last day as a crossing guard.

Richard Whitehead

Red Cross volunteer and Mayfield Village Police Officer

• Rick Whitehead has demonstrated exceptional leadership as a volunteer in the Emergency Services department of the American Red Cross of Greater Cleveland. Among his many contributions, he has served as the Coordinator for the Partner Services Group, has responded to local emergencies in Northeast Ohio, and on national disaster assignments. He continually promotes the Red Cross to our government and community-based partners, and is a strong advocate for training, providing critical disaster preparedness information to the community and volunteers as a Disaster Instructor to other Red Cross personnel. He consistently demonstrates commitment to those served by the Red Cross and exemplifies personal excellence.

Jaiwon Woodley

Cleveland Teenager

• Jaywon was at home with his older brother, Jack while his parents were at work. When he smelled smoke, he ran into his brother’s room and saw flames. He punched 9-11 into his cell phone, and dragged Jack, who is disabled, through a rear bedroom window and out onto a porch, screaming for help. His quick actions saved both of their lives.

Bob Zak

Crime Watch Coordinator

Westown Community Development Corporation

• Bob is the Crime Watch Coordinator for the neighborhood of Ward 19 in Cleveland served by Westown Community Development Corporation. He holds regular meetings with residents to help them resolve issues and to make them aware of crime problems. As many of the residents are elderly, Bob goes above and beyond by doing household repairs or negotiating reduced rates with vendors for snow removal, plumbing, painting, etc. He is a hero to the senior citizens of Ward 19, giving them rides, visiting them when they are sick and helping them in many ways.

Joanne Zeroske

Nurse and administrator

Ex. Dir., Human Resource Operations, Cleveland Clinic

VP of Human Resources, Regional Hospitals

• Joanne saved the life of someone choking at a charity luncheon in 2008; she has gone out of her way to help patients by providing care and attention above and beyond what is expected. She is a great advocate for CPR and First Aid training.

The American Red Cross of Greater Cleveland helps people by providing shelter, food, clothing and mental health counseling to families affected by disasters in Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties. All disaster relief is free and is made possible by generous donations from the American people. Our vision is to best serve the 1.7 million people of the Greater Cleveland community by preventing, preparing and responding to emergencies, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The American Red Cross is a part of your life.