Heroes Breakfast 2014 Wednesday, September 10, 2014 Thank you to our Leadership Sponsors: 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 1 9/4/14 9:12 AM
Good Samaritan Tanner Pilz Presented by: Simpson Lumber Company Don t hesitate to jump in and save somebody, because just sitting there isn t going do any good, says Tanner Pilz, who followed those sentiments and saved a man who crashed into a ditch. Tanner found the driver pinned under his truck and submerged in standing water. As other passers-by stood and watched, Tanner jumped in and held the man s head above water until emergency crews arrived. Tanner s quick thinking and actions saved a life, which is why he is a hero today. 9 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 9 9/4/14 9:13 AM
Call to Action Officer Kory Pearce Presented by: The Boeing Company In April, Officer Kory Pearce, a 22-year veteran of the Olympia Police Department saved a suicidal 16-year-old woman from jumping off an overpass. After ensuring the safety of bystanders, he worked with another person to approach the young woman. As she let go of the overpass, he was able to wrap his arms around her and pull her to safety. Officer Pearce is a father and says this incident stands out in his mind more than any other call he has been on. Thanks to his quick actions and dedication to his job, he was able to save the life of a young woman. 11 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 11 9/4/14 9:13 AM
Commitment to Community Anne Sprute Presented by: General Plastics Manufacturing Company Anne Sprute is a 24-year veteran of the US Army who retired at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 at Joint Base Lewis McChord. While stationed at JBLM, and later when she transitioned out of the military to a corporate job, Anne saw firsthand a need to improve the delivery of community services that help transitioning service members and their families. Anne founded the non-profit organization RallyPoint/6 to create a onestop-shop for veterans, military members, and military families to gain information about the resources available for them. 13 pe 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 13 9/4/14 9:13 AM
CPR Rescue Dan Reddin Presented by: Puget Sound Energy Thanks to Wilson High School teacher Dan Reddin s CPR training and quick actions, he was able to save the life of one of his students. After freshman Loki Bopari s heart stopped beating, Dan performed CPR on the student until emergency personnel arrived. I m thankful I had the skills to quickly respond, says Dan. Dan s ability to quickly assess the situation and take action to save his student s life make him a hero. 15 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 15 9/4/14 9:13 AM
Service in Action Staff Sergeant Jose Garcia Presented by: UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans The quick thinking and lifesaving skills of Staff Sergeant Jose Garcia helped save lives in a multi-vehicle crash on I-5 late last year. As the entire freeway came to a halt, Sergeant Garcia rushed to help two people out of their van and then climbed into the back of another car to assist an injured driver who was pinned inside. Without Sergeant Garcia s quick actions, the pinned-in man might have died. When I jumped in that guy s truck, I didn t do it because I thought I would become famous, Sergeant Garcia said, I did it because he was in need. For acting courageously and being prepared to save lives, Staff Sergeant Jose Garcia is a hero. 17 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 17 9/4/14 9:13 AM
First Aid Rescue Scott Bradley Presented by: Fred Meyer When a fellow student, Karen Matkin, began choking in class, Evergreen State College student Scott Bradley jumped into action. Scott quickly cleared the area around Karen and performed abdominal thrusts. He successfully dislodged the candy Karen was choking on and returned her breathing to a normal rhythm. Scott is a military veteran who has training in basic first aid. According to Scott, many in the room had no idea what to do in this type of situation except to call 9-1-1. Scott is an advocate for everyone receiving basic first aid training. Without Scott s quick thinking and preparedness, the outcome of this situation could have been very different. Thank you, Scott. 19 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 19 9/4/14 9:13 AM
Fire Rescue Melissa Ross Presented by: CHI Franciscan Health Melissa Ross rescued her three daughters from their burning home. She used extraordinary courage and strength to break the window in her daughters bedroom, yank out the bolted metal bars covering the window, and pull her daughters to safety before fire engulfed the entire home. I don t think I m a hero at all, Melissa said. I just think that I m a mom who loves her kids not to leave them in a burning house. While Melissa may not think she is a hero, her extreme courage and strength in the face of danger make her a hero. 21 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 21 9/4/14 9:13 AM
Compassion in Action Human Animal Bonding Program Presented by: Columbia Bank Wagging a tail, offering a quick nuzzle, or just being a calm furry presence is all in a day s work for Jax, Bella, and Lola therapy dogs in the Human/Animal Bonding Program. Along with their handlers, Amanda Hackbarth, Janet Picatti Baker, and Debbie Brautigam, these dogs visit military medical facilities in Western Washington to boost morale and aid the healing of patients. From wounded soldiers to military family members to residents at the Veterans Affairs nursing home, the dogs provide a medication of a different kind unconditional love to over 120 patients a week. Thanks to the dogs and their handlers, thousands of patients have benefitted from the love of four-legged furry friends. 23 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 23 9/4/14 9:13 AM
Workplace Rescue Beverly Eradia Presented by: MultiCare Health System When Mike Sandhorst stopped breathing after swimming at the Mel Korum YMCA, Aquatics Director Beverly Eredia knew exactly what to do thanks to her CPR training. Beverly immediately directed her staff to get a defibrillator as she started CPR. Her quick actions saved the victim s life. It was surreal. You train on it and you go into that automatic mode. I was ecstatic when he opened his eyes! Using her CPR training in a real life situation has reinforced for Beverly the importance of having lifesaving skills. Beverly is more committed than ever to training community members in CPR so that others are as well trained and prepared as she was to save a life. 25 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 25 9/4/14 9:13 AM
1235 S Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 98409 253.441.7613 redcross.org/rainier 105501 08/14 105501 Tacoma Heroes Breakfast_Program.indd 32 9/4/14 9:13 AM