Community Corner

Red Cross Honors San Mateo County Volunteers

In the Bay Area, more than 2,000 people volunteer at the Red Cross.

The American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter has announced this year’s San Mateo County Volunteer of the Year, Colleen Sasso.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to an individual who "best exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and who has contributed significantly to operations, programs, and services as well as the mission of the Red Cross," agency officials said in a statement this week.

Sasso has advanced through the ranks in both Red Cross Disaster Health Services and Client Casework in San Mateo County, according to the agency. She is also active with the External Relations Community Partnerships team.

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Sasso is the current Chapter Client Casework Lead and supervises 20 other volunteers. Disaster Health Services (DHS) Lead (2010‐2012), where she was responsible for an increase of more than 200 percent in the active DHS cadre; Exercise Co‐Lead for the October 2011 San Francisco International Airport Exercise involving more than 80 volunteers from ARCBA and neighboring chapters.

In addition, she is the Red Cross representative at San Mateo County Human Services Agency Food & Shelter Work Group meetings and actively participates in monthly meetings with the executive directors of the seven San Mateo County Core Agencies.

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She also acts as the Red Cross liaison with the Daly City Peninsula Partnership Collaborative for Children, Youth, and Families, a collaborative of 60 agencies and institutions. 

Outstanding volunteers honored at the San Mateo County Volunteer Awards and Recognition Event held on May 18 also included: 

  • Community Preparedness: Chuck Nile and Chris Orman
  • Disaster of the Year: Kimberlee Van Orden and Michael Yamamoto
  • General Support: Noella Markovich and James Ford
  • Good Neighbor: Rafael Avendano and Teri Chin
  • Health and Safety:  Jason Wong
  • President’s Volunteer Service: Al Mallamo, Leslie Toy, Chris Orman and Marilyn Johnson
  • Rookie of the Year: Jim Holley
  • Volunteer Supervisor: Chris Orman
  • Youth Services: Andrew Peng and Brandon Yan

In the Bay Area, more than 2,000 people volunteer at the Red Cross. For more information about becoming a Red Cross volunteer, call 1-888-4-HELP-BAY (1-888-443-5722) or visit www.redcross.org/bayarea to learn more.

About American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter 
As a community-based, humanitarian organization, the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter provides relief to those affected by disasters and empowers individuals in our community to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.  By helping people in the Bay Area learn how to take care of their families and neighbors, the Red Cross strengthens the community and makes it ready for all types of disasters, including home fires, earthquakes, wildfires and health emergencies. Call 1-888-4-HELP-BAY (1-888-443-5722) or visit www.redcross.org/bayarea to learn more. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter.


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