Northern California Coastal Region Celebrates Its 2024 Volunteers of the Year
Every year, our region honors volunteers who best exemplify the spirit of volunteerism with the prestigious, “Volunteer of the Year Award”. These awardees are exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions over the past calendar year, serving in multiple roles and across various lines of service.
Meet our Volunteers of the Year from across the region:
Sheryl Calija
Bay Area Chapter
Manteca, CA
Sheryl Calija has been part of the Red Cross in Alameda since 2021, and she has been integral to the Disaster Action Team (DAT). Every month, she ensures their schedule is posted, accurate, and easily accessible, becoming a model for other territories. She has also been a very helpful guide when onboarding new volunteers.
“I was absolutely shocked when I learned I was getting this award and very proud to be recognized for my work,” said Sheryl.
Sheryl joined the Red Cross after she moved back to California and wanted to volunteer. She was excited when she got a position as a DAT Duty Officer. After a while, she wanted a position that would further allow her to interact with those affected by disasters so she became a caseworker. Sheryl had to take a step back due to family commitments, but she has continued being a valued volunteer with her scheduling contributions.
Linda Crippin
Bay Area Chapter
Brentwood, CA
After retiring, Linda Crippin wanted to continue helping others, so she decided to join the Red Cross. She currently serves as a Recovery Coordinator, overseeing a strong team of caseworkers, routinely assisting other chapters in training new caseworkers and helping with multi-unit family fire response in Contra Costa County and other territories.
She volunteers for Sound the Alarm events and leads one of the smoke alarm installation teams for the Home Fire Campaign. In addition, she is a very active Presentation Assistant for two youth programs – The Pillowcase Project and Prepare with Pedro – and connected with organizations to gather donations for disaster victims. She has also led multiple Integrated Care and Condolence Teams.
One of her most memorable moments with the Red Cross was when she assisted with recovery efforts from tornados in Oklahoma in 2013, where she saw the suffering that disasters can bring.
“I was very humbled and honored to receive the Volunteer of the Year Award. I never thought I would be worthy of such an esteemed honor. I am grateful to those who nominated me and only hope I can maintain the quality of work that brought me such recognition,” said Linda.
Beverly Bernhardson
Heart of the Valley Chapter
Stockton, CA
Beverly inherited her dedication to volunteerism from her family. Her parents always helped others, and her father was a regular blood donor. She began volunteering with Red Cross after her oldest son joined a Boy Scouts of America troop sponsored by the Red Cross in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“I have never been one to expect rewards for my work. I grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota and learned at a young age to work hard. Seeing the end result of your hard work was your payment and made you feel like you had accomplished something. It is good to know that others appreciate the work I do and have recognized me for it. I hope to continue volunteering for the Red Cross for many more years and hearing more stories from everyone,” said Beverly.
Kay Tsenin
North Bay Chapter
Novato, CA
Kay Tsenin is the lead of the North Bay Chapter’s Sound the Alarm (STA) program and regularly volunteers as a Disaster Action Team member. Under her leadership, the local STA team has exceeded all goals for individual and event-based smoke alarm installations.
“I am very proud to have received the award. It is really an award for the whole team. I do not do this work alone. It is truly a team effort, and I am just the band leader of this incredible team of volunteers,” said Kay.
Originally from Shanghai, China, Kay noticed the work of Red Cross volunteers ever since she was five. In 2017, she felt compelled to volunteer herself at a local disaster center in Oakland, during the Bay Area wildfires. When she started regularly volunteering at the Marin Office, she became hooked on the work that she was doing and the people in the organization.
John Williams
North Bay Chapter
Benicia, CA
John Williams is known for his services across the Disaster Cycle Services Team. John is always ready to lead Be Red Cross Ready presentations at a moment’s notice. He also takes an active role in supporting the local mass care team and is ready to jump into action.
John started volunteering with Red Cross after seeing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and thought of Red Cross as “a long-respected organization with proven results in alleviating human suffering.”
“Red Cross has trained me to become a kind and professional part of that volunteer workforce. I wear my Red Cross hat and vest with pride knowing I am a small part of a large organization that helps people before, during and after disasters,” said John.
Ben Greenberg
North Bay Chapter
Santa Rosa, CA
Ben Greenberg volunteers for many Red Cross activities, such as teaching CPR classes and installing smoke alarms for Sound the Alarm. He’s known for always being available when a volunteer is needed.
Ben started volunteering with the Red Cross after the Tubbs Fire in 2017. He also wanted to give back to his community that helped him thrive while having a disability.
“I also volunteer to show others with disabilities that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Being the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award surprised me. It is a great honor to be recognized for my accomplishments. I would like to thank the Red Cross for the opportunity to serve my community and the support to do so,” said Ben.
Pam Chapell
North Bay Chapter
American Canyon, CA
Pam Chapell serves as the de facto Disaster Chair in Napa County, a Disaster Action Team Coordinator and an event organizer. She’s contributed a lot to the Red Cross mission, conducting presentations for the Napa County Fire Chiefs Association, assisting with Sound the Alarm events and supporting the American Canyon High School Red Cross Club.
Pam joined the Red Cross in 2018, after retiring. She was looking to do something meaningful and when people were affected by the Tubbs Fire, she noticed how much they appreciated help from the Red Cross.
“It amazes me how resilient people can be even when they are having the worst day of their lives. Watching how they help and support their friends and neighbors who are going through it too,” said Pam.
Fellow Red Cross volunteers Peggy Wegner of the Silicon Valley Chapter and Tom Wiley of the Central Coast Chapter also received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Congratulations to our incredible awardees for this well-deserved recognition!
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