Please help the Red Cross by nominating local heroes

To the Editor:

Four years ago, the Red Cross held its first Hometown Heroes Breakfast at the Athens Community Center. The Heroes Breakfast is not an original idea for the Red Cross, as it's done throughout the country at many other chapters. However, it was a first for Athens County! Despite those who said it would be hard to get folks out at 7:30 a.m., over 260 attended that first year. The next year we moved the event to Nelson Commons and had 400 people, and then last year over 350 folks braved the early morning to attend.

Nelson Commons closed for renovations, so the event this year has been moved to The Plains United Methodist Church. Yes, the same church that opened its doors to the Red Cross during the southeast Ohio tornado in 2010. Their wonderful venue can accommodate 250 people, so it's critical that people make their reservations.

What is more critical is that Athens County nominates its heroes! The nominations are way down this year, and I wonder why? Surely there are those people living in our community who have impacted the lives of others? Surely there is that one very special teacher who quietly stirs the imagination and creativity of his/her students? Isn't there a student at OU or Hocking College who says that one professor whose sense of wonder and passion for the class they teach excited every student in the class? And what about that special person who went above and beyond what was expected at his or her church, gym, work or club? Most heroes act quietly and without expectation of reward or honor. Don't YOU know someone like this?

The keynote speaker for this year's event is Neal Denton, who is an OU alumnus and was student body president while he was in Athens. Neal works in Washington, D.C., for the National Red Cross as the liaison for government relations.

Nomination forms can be picked up at the Red Cross at 100 S. May Ave., Athens, OH, or you can call and request a form to be mailed at 593-5273.

Nominations are due in the ARC office by 4 p.m. on Feb. 6. The Hometown Heroes event will be Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Pamela Martino
Executive Director/ARC of SE Ohio
South May Avenue
Athens