Red Cross Names Great Heroes Award Recipients

Herkimer, NY (WIBX) - The recipients of this year's American Red Cross Great Heroes Breakfast were announced at Herkimer Community College today. The event, in its 14th year, is to recognize those who make a positive difference in the Greater Mohawk Valley. This year's recipient of the Humanitarian Award is Eve Van de Wal, Regional President of Excellus Blue Cross-Blue Shield. Van de Wal said, "I'm actually humbled by this honor because I was born here, raised here, so for me to get recognized for something that I love to do is really truly an honor."

Andria De Lisle-Heath, Executive Director of the American Red Cross says The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties will also be honored at the upcoming breakfast event for its part in making the area a better place to live. De Lisle-Heath said, "What makes the Community Foundation so critical to our organization and dozens others is that the proposal process is designed to require us to help ourselves; often challenging us to raise a matching dollar as well as look at our programs in the most economically efficient manner, prior to receiving a gift."

The 3rd Annual Challenge was also unveiled at the event this morning at HCCC. The challenge sponsored by The Herkimer Polish Community Home will double every monetary pledge--up to $5000--during the breakfast. Officials say those who are not able to attend the breakfast can still take part in the challenge by sending their gifts marked, "Herkimer Polish Home Challenge" before March 31st, to the local Red Cross.

Also, this year's award named, The 2011 Michael A. Cianfrocco Tribute to Humanitarian Award, is to honor the memory of the late Mr. Cianfrocco, former Executive Director of the Utica Chapter of the American Red Cross. "Our family is delighted that this award has been renamed ... as it continues his vision for the Red Cross and gives us a chance to recognize the people who really are making a difference for all of us in the Mohawk Valley," said Mrs. Colleen Cianfrocco.

The 14th Annual American Red Cross Great Heroes Breakfast is happening on Thursday March 31, 2011 at HCCC from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. For more information visit, www.redcrossmv.org or contact the group in Utica at (315) 733-4666 or in Herkimer at (315) 866-2890.