By Special to the Town Crier
Los Altos resident Karen Duncan is one of three local residents who will be honored by the Palo Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross at its annual meeting on June 14.
Duncan, who is a board member, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution of resources and leadership toward helping the American Red Cross carry out its mission of disaster prevention and preparedness. “Karen’s dedication and vision have helped our chapter meet our goals and successfully provide programs and services to the communities we serve,” said Pilar Furlong, interim executive director of the Palo Alto Area Chapter.
Lynne McCreight, a resident of Los Altos Hills, will be awarded the Henri Dunant Award. The award is given in memory of Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman who played an instrumental role in the foundation of the International Red Cross Movement. “Lynne has taken on leadership roles time and again and helped the Red Cross provide valuable service to the community,” said Furlong.
The chapter will also present Youth Volunteer Awards to Chris Lin and Sean Harris. Lin, a senior at Los Altos High, is a volunteer for the American Red Cross Safe Kids Program, which trains elementary-age children in disaster prevention and safety. “Chris is a very reliable instructor,” said Adriana Flores, community services director. “His demeanor allows him to remain calm even with the most challenging of kids,” she added.
Harris, a senior at St. Francis School in Mountain View, has been a volunteer with the Safe Ride program for four years. Safe Ride offers confidential rides home to teenagers who may have been drinking. “Sean is a great leader and motivator of his peers,” said Flores.
Exceptional Volunteer Awards will be presented to Paul Benalcazar and Noreen Dowling. Benalcazar, a Los Altos resident and student at Menlo College, is being honored for his work with the American Red Cross Toy Drive.
The chapter’s annual meeting and election recognizes volunteers who have made outstanding contributions of time and service to help the American Red Cross. The event will be held at 6 p.m., June 14, at the Mountain View City Hall Rotunda, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. The event, which will include refreshments, is open to the public. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 688-0431.
The Palo Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross serves the cities of Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford and Moffett Field. It provides local communities with disaster assistance, disaster prevention education, and health and safety education in the form of CPR and first-aid courses. The chapter provides services to over 22,000 people each year.
For more information about award winners and the Palo Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and its volunteer opportunities, call Deepa Arora, public relations manager, at 688-0424.
