Monthly Archives: November 2024

“Two-For-One Special” 

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Recognizing Susan Winters, Heart of the Valley Chapter’s Clara Barton Award Winner 

By Selena Nisha

Photo courtesy of Susan Winters

After retiring from a career as a speech therapist and school secretary, Susan Winters from Modesto, California found herself searching for new ways to stay engaged in her community. Susan has always believed in the importance of giving back. Her parents were active in community service and instilled in her the values of volunteerism and compassion towards others. This passion for service led her to the American Red Cross in 2010, and her contribution to the organization was recently recognized with the Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Leadership. Named after the founder of the Red Cross, the award recognizes a volunteer for their years of service in various leadership positions.  

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A Significant Milestone for Training Services: 350 Students Certified in Adult CPR/AED in One Day

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Photo by Martin Gagliano – American Red Cross

On a typical Wednesday morning, having more than one hundred eighth graders seated on the auditorium floor might not seem out of the ordinary. However, witnessing them perform synchronized CPR maneuvers while learning to save lives is impressive. On October 22, the local Red Cross Training Services Team, in partnership with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) and Dozier-Libbey Medical High School (DLMHS), hosted a record-setting youth CPR/AED certification event for nearly 350 eighth-grade students over two 90-minute sessions at Antioch’s Park Middle School.

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Driving Hope as Waymo Partners with the Red Cross for its Second Annual Holiday Blood Drive

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The holiday season is traditionally hard on the nation’s blood supply. The American Red Cross typically sees a decrease in blood donations through the end of the year. To help boost blood donations and ensure patients have access to lifesaving blood and platelets, autonomous driving technology company, Waymo, partnered with the Red Cross to host its second annual blood drive from November 4-10 in San Francisco. The company generously offered two free rides to Waymo riders and employees who donated blood or platelets at the Red Cross San Francisco Blood Donation Center located on Market Street.

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A 70th Birthday Request for Blood Donations Inspires Lifelong Commitments

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Naomi Stamper (left) inspired her friend Linda Wulf (right) to become a regular blood donor. They said that one of the highest of levels of Jewish charity is when the donor doesn’t know the identity of the person who receives and the one who receives doesn’t know the identity of the donor. So, for these long-time friends, donating blood is pure, uncomplicated satisfaction. 
Photo courtesy of Naomi Stamper

When Naomi Stamper was about to turn 70 years young, her friends asked her what she wanted to do to celebrate. “I didn’t want to just go out to lunch with my lady friends,” she said. “I wanted to do something important.” 

So, she asked her friends to give blood, with the goal of getting 70 donations. She arranged for her synagogue to do a 70th birthday blood drive for her friends, and the word spread to friends and family across the country. “We got over 70 donations at that time, and the donations kept on growing,” Naomi, who is now 83, said. “People kept going and donating blood for years, like my friend Linda.” 

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Home fire survivor continues mission of fire prevention through Red Cross partnership

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Nikita Johnson at the CFSBC office
Photo courtesy of Nikita Johnson  

A home fire is one of the many unthinkable, tragic events that cause massive disruptions to the lives of those affected. While these tragedies are often preventable, an American Red Cross survey demonstrated that the majority of Americans are more unprepared to survive a home fire than they believe. This is why the partnership between the Red Cross and the Community Foundation of San Benito County (CFSBC), which started back in 2019, is so integral to protecting communities against home fires.   

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Blood, Service and Sacrifice: A Major’s Lifelong Red Cross Connection

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Zahra (left) with her older sister, Crystal, enjoying the holidays circa 1993. – Photo courtesy of Zahra Moutabakkir

At just two years old, Zahra Moutabakkir was fighting for her life. Diagnosed with a mysterious autoimmune disease, she spent 12 weeks in the hospital, undergoing numerous blood transfusions as doctors struggled to save her. “My mom prayed for a miracle,” Zahra recalls, “and after weeks of uncertainty, my white blood cell count miraculously started to recover.” Those transfusions saved her life, leaving an impactful mark that would shape her future and create a lifelong bond with the American Red Cross while donning the honorable military uniform

“My connection to the Red Cross began as a child, and it’s been a constant in my life ever since,” Zahra says. “Without those blood transfusions, I wouldn’t be here. I’ve been donating blood ever since I could, knowing how important it is.”

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