SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As a community leader in emergency preparedness, prevention and response, the Capital Region Chapter of the American Red Cross will host a celebration to honor individuals in our community who have taken action in a time of crisis to help others and show extraordinary human compassion.

This celebration, the 7th annual Red Cross Heroes, is scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2011 at the DoubleTree Hotel Grand Ballroom in Sacramento, starting at 12:00 p.m. To purchase tickets, call 916-993-7085 or visit http://redcrossheroes.eventbrite.com/.

Heroes will be recognized in several categories including Animal Rescue, Good Samaritan (senior, adult and youth), Professional Rescuer, Law Enforcement, Medical Professional, Military (active duty and veteran), and Workplace. Two other special awards, the Spirit of the Red Cross award and the Hero of the Year award, will also be handed out.

“The Red Cross wouldn’t be able to do what we do everyday—help local residents prevent and prepare for emergencies—without our local heroes. We wouldn’t be able to help disaster victims here in our own community, much less victims across the country, or even around the world,” said Dawn Lindblom, CEO of the Capital Region Chapter. “Last year alone, we trained nearly 50,000 people in the lifesaving skills like CPR and first aid, and our 3,000 of volunteers responded to more than 400 local emergencies.”

“This year we will dedicate a day to thank and celebrate heroes throughout Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Sacramento and Placer counties; those who make a difference through the Red Cross, and others, including police officers, doctors, and other ‘ordinary’ people who have accomplished something ‘extraordinary,’” said Matt Lingo, resource development director.

This is one of four Heroes events that take place throughout the Capital Region Chapter jurisdiction; additional events take place throughout the year in Modesto , Stockton and Davis.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog atwww.redcrosschat.org.