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Honorees Include 17-Year-Old Youth AIDS Educator & Good Samaritans Who Saved an Elderly Couple Trapped in a Burning Home
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (June 10, 2008) – Heroes, including two men who ran into a burning home to save an elderly couple trapped inside are among those to be honored by the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross at its seventh annual Michael & Mary Zolde Real Heroes Luncheon, on Wednesday, June 25 at 11:30 a.m. at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.
The Real Heroes Luncheon is brought in part by Joseph S. Karp of The Karp Law Firm in Palm Beach Gardens and through the donation from the estate of Michael and Mary Zolde.
“The Real Heroes program was created to recognize those individuals and teams that do the work that can inspire us all,” said Wilfredo Rosario, Greater Palm Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross, Interim Chief Executive Officer. “These heroes have saved lives and made a difference to so many people in the community and this is our chance to thank them for the unselfish work they’ve done.”
The selection committee chose the final award recipients based on courage, kindness and an unselfish character shown by their acts of heroism.
The 2008 Real Heroes winners are:
Marine Rescue Award, presented by WPBF-TV to Robert Klein of Port St. Lucie. A prominent real estate attorney and community leader, Klein was spending a day at the beach with his 11- and 14-year old sons when he suddenly noticed that the boys were stuck in a riptide. He swam out to save them but became caught in the strong current. Due to his amazing bravery and incredible devotion to his sons, the two boys were saved. Sadly, Klein was not. He is being honored for his true bravery, love and devotion to his family.
Good Samaritan Youth Award, presented to Nathanial of Royal Palm Beach. Nathaniel is a 17-year-old Haitian-American high school senior, born with HIV. Nathaniel donates his time as a member of Charles’ Crew, a group of HIV infected adolescent speakers who educate others on risk behaviors & prevention throughout Palm Beach County in classrooms, churches, youth summits, after-school programs, foster children group homes, and the Ryan White Youth Conferences. Nathaniel is an inspiration to the HIV community not only for his courage and activism, but because a few years ago he was within shouting distance of death and now is a star wrestler for his high school.
Educator Award, presented by The Palm Beach Post to Renatta Espinoza, of Lake Worth. Espinoza, wears many hats as the founder of the Academy for Positive Learning charter school, assuming the role of the principal, the drama and physical education teacher, as well as the crossing guard and guidance counselor to name a few. This Academy is the only one in Palm Beach County that specializes in Multiple Intelligence and offers the Linda Mood Bell reading program free to all 118 students, 90% of which coming from low-income households.
Animal Rescue Award, presented by Sunny 104.3 FM to Sgts. Brad Vince and Pete Tremblay and Officers Sean Pope, Elizabeth Juric, Liz Raleigh, Jeff Bernstein and John Banegas, of the Jupiter Police Department and Palm Beach County Fire Stations No. 11, 15, 16, 18 and 19. They arrived at the scene of Safe Harbor Animal Hospital after it caught fire and went up in flames. Thanks to their quick work along with the Palm Beach County Fire Department and Safe Harbor Staff, six cats and two dogs survived the inferno and are expected to make complete recoveries.
Fire Rescue Award, presented by Mercedes Benz of Palm Beach to Paramedics Randy Ammon, Eric Clark, Andrew Craig, Brian Hardy, Stephen Hirsch, Drew Reyburn, Gary Roginski, Robert Tugby and Frank Vomero of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Station No. 32 in Lake Worth. They arrived at the scene of a construction accident to find a worker buried 12-feet underground and covered in dirt and soil. After four hours of digging and fighting the mud and dirt that trapped the man, Fire Rescue Station No. 32, along with help from Station No. 31, Station No. 19, Special Operations at Boynton Beach Fire Rescue, Palm Beach County Water and Utilities Department and TraumaHawk AeroMedical Helicopter, were able to bring him to safety.
Fallen Hero Award, presented by Paint the Town Red Young Professionals Group to Army Capt. Adam P. Snyder. A 26-year old Army Captain from Fort Pierce and a graduate of West Point, Snyder was deployed for a second service in Iraq. After his vehicle hit a roadside explosive in Bayji, Iraq, Capt. Snyder and soldiers Army. Sgt. Eric J. Hernandez and Army Pvt. Dewayne L. White sustained serious wounds and were killed. Snyder is being honored for his amazing bravery and devotion to his country.
Good Samaritan Adult Award, presented to Vince Barnett, Port St. Lucie and George Watler of Fort Pierce, who rushed to the rescue of a 94-year-old woman and man whose home was on fire. The couple was trapped inside the burning home and could not make their way out. Although the house was destroyed, the elderly couple survived due to the bravery of Barnett and Watler.
Law Enforcement Award, presented to Sgt. Thomas McCabe. Sgt. McCabe serves his community as a 19-year veteran of the Boynton Beach Police Department and kind mediator and commander of the Crisis Negotiation Team. On December 13, 2007 Sgt. McCabe was successful in rescuing a man who stood on an I-95 overpass ready to take his own life.
Medical Award, presented to Henry Suarez. Suarez, an ultrasound technician at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, was performing a routine ultrasound, when he realized his patient began to have contractions. It quickly became apparent that the woman would not be able to wait for a delivery team, as the baby’s leg was already out. Suarez kept the patient calm, while instructing her on proper breathing and pushing techniques, and was able to successfully deliver the baby.
Tickets to the Real Heroes Awards Luncheon are $50 per individual and $450 for a table of ten. For reservations or more information, please call 561-833-7711.
About the American Red Cross
For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach Counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at HYPERLINK “http://www.redcross-pbc.org/” \o “http://www.redcross-pbc.org/” \t “new_win” www.redcross-pbc.org.
