Union county, North Carolina

A Union County, NC woman has been honored with the national Red Cross Certificate of Merit Life Saving Award, signed by President Barack Obama, for saving her son’s life. The lifesaving award has been given to more than 12,000 individuals who have saved or sustained a life as a direct result of American Red Cross training.

Rebecca Riffle used her Red Cross CPR skills in May to resuscitate her 2-year-old son, Hunter, after a backyard accident. Harper was playing on the swing set and got a roped wrapped around his neck as he slid down the slide. Rebecca responded immediately giving him rescue breaths as she called 911. By the time paramedics arrived, Harper was breathing on his own. Rebecca was using the skills she learned six years ago as a lifeguard. Although Rebecca called her skills rusty, “they worked,” she said. Rebecca has since become recertified in CPR.

Two other Red Cross volunteers and an employee were honored at last week’s annual meeting and volunteer celebration for outstanding service.

Beau Brooks received the Cliff Andrews Exceptional Volunteer Service Award, which honors a Union County man who was an instructor in disaster, health and safety on the local, state and national levels. A recent high school graduate, Brooks has volunteered with the Red Cross since 2003. His passion is emergency health services, and he became the chapter’s youngest certified instructor. Brooks served on the Red Cross National Youth Council in 2006, one of 12 youths across the country, and volunteers as an instructor, lifeguard assistant, office assistant and event volunteer.

Caroline Adams, marketing director at Monroe Crossing, was named to the Hugh Griffith Humanitarian Honor Roll. This award honors Hugh Griffith, who served as a local board member for 12 years. Since joining the Red Cross in 2005, Adams’ enthusiasm and creativity have spawned numerous projects including Fashion Passion, for which she won an international industry marketing award. As marketing manager for Monroe Crossing, she partners with the Red Cross and other community agencies to further the humanitarian mission here at home and across the country. Last summer, the mall’s Rock The Levee event supported national Red Cross flood relief in Iowa.

Judy Duston received the Spirit of Excellence Award For Employees. Duston started with the Red Cross in 2003 as a volunteer, then began working with the agency through the Council on Aging, and became a Red Cross employee in 2006 as blood coordinator. A blood recipient herself, her passion for the lifesaving work of blood collections is evident in everything that she does. This year, the chapter added 14 fun awards to honor and encourage local volunteers who donate their time and skills in non-traditional, but equally important roles.

Alan Pollack was named the Rookie of the Year; Deb Stein was named Weekend Warrior, and Kirk Patterson received the In a Pinch Award. The Frank Speer family took home the Family Affair Award.

David Helms earned the Head of the Class award for taking advantage of training opportunities; Linda Bogle won the Stealth Award for doing jobs secretly, while Dennis Beaver earned the Keeping the Program Alive Award for going above and beyond to provide service.

Roy Crunkleton took the Golden Hammer Award for his skills and time in building maintenance and facility operations, and his son, Steven, earned the first Dirty Boot Award for his willingness to take on thankless, but necessary, jobs.

Peggy Johnson earned the Sunny Day Award for her perpetual smile; Nancy Stephen took home the Breakthrough Performance Award for her marketing contributions, and Martha Allen earned the Women of Hope Award for organizing the support group.

Two businesses earned the first Corporate Spirit Awards – Goulston Technologies Inc. and Enterprise Rent A Car – while Mario’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant took home the Community Spirit Award.

The Union County chapter also named four new members to its board of directors and reappointed two long-time board members.

New members are Robin Goulet, attorney with Stepp Lehnhardt Law Group; Bill Heisner, owner of Carawill Realty; Doug McAteer, service manager at Hendrick Chevrolet Cadillac, and Dr. Denise Patterson, assistant superintendent for auxiliary services, Union County Public Schools.

Returning to the board are Ron Vilas, owner of Vilas & Co., and Michele Sarno, local CPA. Both Vilas and Sarno have served as chair of the board.

2009 MonroeScoop.com Union County, North Carolina