Red Cross Honors Diane Bridgeman, Megan Erk

COMMUNITY NEWS Red Cross Honors Diane Bridgeman, Megan Erk

On April 27, the American Red Cross of the Central Coast honored chapter volunteers from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties giving Dr. Diane Bridgeman of Santa Cruz the top honor, the Clara Barton Award.

Named after the founder of the American Red Cross, the award recognizes a volunteer for service in a series of leadership position over a number of years.

A volunteer in Santa Cruz County since 1991, Dr. Bridgeman has been a staple of the local chapter’s Disaster Cycle Services and Service to the Armed Forces teams. She has also made significant contributions to the International Services department.

“A member of our chapter for 30 years, Dr. Diane Bridgeman is really the embodiment of compassion turned to action,” said Michele Averill, CEO of the local chapter. “As the territory lead for Red Cross mental health services, Dr. Bridgeman is constantly called upon to take care of our local workforce, aid residents affected by disasters, and provide compassionate support to our local communities during incidents that involve mass casualties.”

The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Megan Erk of Aptos. She stepped up as COVID-19 broke out in March of 2020. She jumped in to support American Red Cross blood drives with thoughtful reassurances of safety to donors and the broader community. She became an active board member at the chapter level as well as on the regional executive board.

When wildfires broke out last fall, and when there was potential for mudslides during the winter, she took on the Emergency Operations Center liaison role, working 18-hour days to ensure the Red Cross communicated with the county, partners, and survivors honestly and deliberately. She has now been promoted to the Pacific Division External Relations Lead, proving her professional and thoughtful communications approach.

Other volunteers also were recognized at the virtual event: • Disaster Cycle Services Award /

Exceptional Leadership — Edmund

Tang (Santa Cruz)

Photo Credit: Virginia Becker | American Red Cross Diane Bridgeman • Disaster Cycle Services Award /

Extraordinary Commitment and Dedication — Al & Virginia Becker (Santa

Cruz) • International Services Award — Jill

Hofmann (Santa Cruz) • Biomedical Services Volunteer of the Year Award — Ben Roumimper (Santa Cruz) • General Support Services Award —

Lee Hedgepeth (Monterey) • New Volunteer Award — Ann Bennett

Young (Santa Cruz) • Good Neighbor and Partnership

Award — Denise Acosta, The Salvation Army of Santa Cruz

Other volunteers were celebrated for the large number of hours they devoted to Red Cross service during the 2020 calendar year.

The annual event is designed to acknowledge all of the local Red Cross volunteers.

“Our dedicated and wonderful volunteers have continued to support the mission of the Red Cross, even during this challenging time of COVID-19,” said Averill. “Their selfless contributions of time and energy make the work of the Red Cross possible.” n