Home > > HEROES
American Red Cross Pikes Peak Chapter
Hometown Heroes for the
American Red Cross
April 2, 2010
You can view some photos of the event here.
Thank You 2010 Sponsors!
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Individual Donor: Debby MacSwain |
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Dr. Alan G. Garscadden |
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Meet the 2010 Heroes
Youth Hero |
Eleven-year-old Jamie has volunteered for two years as a youth ambassador for the Pikes Peak American Red Cross, spending her time educating members of our community about fire safety and the mission of the Red Cross. She has held donation drives to benefit Tri-Lakes Cares, Marian House, Crawford House Veterans Rehabilitation Center, The Humane Society, Toys for Tots and the Red Cross. She pursues ways to help her local and global community through her efforts and helps to foster an environment of empathy, compassion and action. For her selfless efforts and benefit to the Community, Jamie is being honored as the 2010 Hometown Youth Hero. |
Community Service Hero |
Michelle Vacha, busy wife, mother, and full-time dental hygienist
began a non-profit program to bring professional dental hygiene services
to seniors living in skilled nursing homes that cannot afford regular
dental care. As a result of starting the program, Michelle has preserved
dignity and pride in local senior citizens, she has improved oral
health, and thereby decreased burden on the community by improving
the oral/systemic relationship. She has also increased knowledge about
the needs of this underserved population which is the fastest growing
population of our nation. For her selfless efforts and benefit to
the Community, Michelle is being honored as the 2010 Hometown Community
Service Hero. |
Community Partner Hero |
El Paso County Search and Rescue consists of non-paid professionals who put countless hours in training, education and saving lives, simply because they believe in what they're doing. They do this 24 hours a day, having to fund even their own equipment and supplies. Stephanie Hammar can personally account for their courage and compassion when they saved her life last summer on Pikes Peak. Stephanie became suddenly ill, and so fatigued that she couldn't hike down the mountain. (She would discover later, that she was enduring two blood clots). Search and Rescue was called in and immediately recognized the signs of heart trouble and knew what to do. Stephanie suffered a heart attack during the rescue. They had to carry up and down all their equipment, medical and emergency supplies, communicate effectively to each other, and then carry Stephanie out. Throughout the process they talked to Stephanie with hope and empathy and kept her awake, even after she said her "goodbyes." They never gave up on her even when she did- after the Flight for Life helicopter couldn't land and the rescue began its 5th hour. They didn't stop even when they got her to an ambulance...they followed her to the hospital, held her hand and kept encouraging her to hang on. For the brave efforts that saved Stephanie Hammar's life and countless others in El Paso County, the El Paso County Search and Rescue is being honored for the 2010 Community Partner Hero Award. |
Adult Hero |
During the hustle and bustle of a busy evening during Super Bowl Sunday at the Fountain Wal-Mart, employees found a man lying face down inside the store. The man was not conscious and his breathing status was unknown. The employees uncertain of what to do ran to co-worker Sharon Smith who is an El Paso County Sheriff's Office 9-1-1 Dispatcher. Sharon responded to the unconscious man's location and quickly determined the man's breathing was ineffective. The man, lying face down and having a purple tint to his skin was quickly rolled onto his back at her instruction. Sharon then swept the man's mouth and found gum. She conducted a head tilt and chin lift. Within a minute, the man started breathing again. The male was also intoxicated and felt suicidal. Sharon instructed a bystander to relay all the information to the Fountain Police Department. Sharon's training and quick thinking are credited for saving the man's life. For her life saving efforts, Sharon Smith is honored as the 2010 Adult Hometown Hero. |
Military Hero |
Army Sergeant Steven Defino was on a "routine" seven vehicle route clearance patrol in the area of Sadar City as the second Husky operator. After three IED Detonations, the first Husky vehicle in the patrol was damaged and Sergeant Defino continued on as the lead Husky operator to continue route clearance. He endured multiple rounds of small arms fire and 1more IED detonations. A fifth IED detonated was followed by 2 rocket propelled grenade rounds and more small arms fire causing significant damage to his vehicle and caused Sergeant Defino to sustain multiple fragments of shrapnel, a broken right hip, fractured pelvis, and a five inch wound on his back. Despite his injuries and the continued heavy engagements around him, SGT Defino was able to calmly relay to another vehicle that he had been wounded. He then hoisted himself out of his mangled vehicle to assist his team. Sergeant Defino's selfless actions, calm demeanor, and leadership ability while conducting route clearance operations in proximity to a well trained and tough enemy were heroic. For his heroic and selfless acts while serving in Iraq, Sergeant Steven Defino is being honored as the 2010 Military Hometown Hero. |
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