Breakfast for local heroes to feature OU alum

The American Red Cross (ARC) of Southeast Ohio is hosting Ohio University alum Neal Denton as keynote speaker at the organization's fourth Hometown Heroes Breakfast Tuesday, Feb. 28, at The Plains United Methodist Church.

"We are thrilled to announce that Neal Denton is our keynote speaker for this year," Pamela Martino, executive director of the ARC of SE Ohio, said in a news release. "I know he will be excellent and I'm excited that he is coming back to Athens!"

Denton joined the ARC government relations team in Washington, D.C. in January 2006 but he's not new to the Red Cross. His father was a 30-year veteran of the Red Cross and retired as vice president after serving in numerous chapters throughout the country. According to the news release, "Denton has a vast knowledge of the Red Cross culture and has worked with chapters and affiliates in addressing government relations at the state, federal and executive levels."

Denton is the former executive director and chief executive officer of the leading national trade association of nonprofit fundraisers. He was one of the few nonprofit executives honored each year from 1996 to 2005 in the NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50 as one of the leading "movers and shakers" in the nonprofit sector of America. The Times referred to Denton as one of the "industry beacons" who will "lead the sector well into the next century."

A U.S. Army veteran in the Military Police Corps, Denton attended OU before coming to Washington to serve as staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the past chairman and serves on the Public Policy Committee of the American Society of Association Executives and the Public Policy Committee of the Independent Sector. Denton is also a guest lecturer at the Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute. While at OU, Denton served as student body president.

For more information on the Heroes Breakfast or to make a reservation, call 593-5273 or visit the local chapterhouse at 100 S. May Ave. in Athens.  Nominations for heroes are due at the chapter by 4 p.m. on Feb. 6.