New York, NY (March 18, 2022) – The American Red Cross in New York State
today celebrated six legislators for their commitment to building more
resilient communities.
The Red Cross in New York State is composed of
three regions – Greater New York, Eastern New York, and Western & Central
New York – and legislators from each region were presented this honor during a virtual ceremony: Assembly Speaker
Carl Heastie, Asw. Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Asm. Demond Meeks, Sen.
Daphne Jordan, Sen. Anna Kaplan, and Senate Minority Leader Robert G. Ortt.
“We are so grateful for the partnership we
share with our legislators across the state. Their commitment to improve the
lives of their constituents aligns with the Red Cross’ mission to prevent and
alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. They each share in our
humanitarian spirit, and we are honored to recognize them for their efforts to
help build more resilient communities,” said Mary J. Barneby, Nicholas
Bond, and Kevin Coffey, CEOs of the American Red Cross Greater NY, Western
NY, and Easter NY Regions.
“It is an honor to be
recognized as a Legislator of the Year by an organization as admired and
respected as the American Red Cross. The work that they do in our communities
to keep residents safe and to provide support and assistance in the face of
emergencies and disasters is critical and nothing short of heroic. I am proud
to have partnered with them for fire safety initiatives in my community and to
help launch their virtual hands only CPR program,” said New York State
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
“I’m honored to be
named the 2022 New York State Legislator of the Year by the American Red Cross,
an organization that does so much for New Yorkers in the face of disaster. When
400 residents in my district were displaced by a terrible fire on 89th
Street, the American Red Cross was there to help get my constituents back on
their feet. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the American Red Cross was there
again to help my team distribute cleanup kits to impacted residents in our
Queens communities. I’ve seen firsthand how vital the American Red Cross’
disaster relief and emergency preparedness programs are to the health and
safety of my constituents. I’m grateful for our continued partnership and
humbled by today’s recognition,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas.
"I am honored to
receive this award today from the American Red Cross. The Red Cross has
maintained a long-standing history of remarkable service to the city of
Rochester, the state of New York, and beyond. From facilitating blood drives,
installing free smoke alarms in homes, and providing food and shelter to families
in need, the Red Cross is dedicated to protecting the health and welfare of
communities across the nation. It is a privilege to work alongside their
organization in establishing sickle cell blood drives for members of our
community. I am proud to assist in their historic efforts in delivering vital
resources to the residents and families of New York,” said Asmblymember Demond Meeks.
“When our nation’s blood
supplies face critical shortages, when disaster strikes, when people are
hurting and need help, the American Red Cross steps up and always answers the
call. We are blessed to count on the experience, expertise, and life-saving
commitment continually shown by the dedicated men and women of the American Red
Cross. For 141 years, the American Red Cross has delivered compassionate
service, showing the very best of our country, touching and saving countless
lives in the moments of greatest need. As Senator, I’ve been fortunate to have
received many awards and recognitions but being named a ‘2022 State Legislator
of the Year’ by the American Red Cross is truly something special and an honor
that I’ll always treasure,” said Senator Daphne Jordan (R,C,I-Halfmoon).
“I’ve been so proud to work with the American Red Cross to
help ensure our community is prepared, safe, and cared for in times of
extraordinary need, and today I’m honored to be recognized as one of their 2022
New York State Legislators of the Year. In our work together, we’ve helped
install hundreds of smoke alarms throughout our community, taught CPR to a
virtual group of over 500, and helped kids and parents learn what to do in case
of an emergency, and I look forward to our continued partnership to help even
more of our neighbors across Long Island and New York State. To the entire team
at the Red Cross, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this great honor,
and for the important work you do every single day,” said Senator Anna M.
Kaplan.
“It's truly an honor to be recognized as a 2022 New York
State Legislator of The Year by the American Red Cross. I am proud to have a
strong partnership with such an impactful organization that turns compassion
into action by assisting people all over the world in the face of disaster.
Because of hardworking volunteers and generous donors, the American Red Cross
is able to provide care, shelter and hope to people who may be facing the
biggest crisis of their lifetime. I'm thankful for the recognition
today and look forward to working together more in the future,” said NYS
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt.
2020 Legislator of the Year Background
Greater NY Region
The Greater New York Region of the Red Cross
supports the more than 12.5 million residents of New York City, Long Island,
Westchester and Rockland Counties, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and
Greenwich, Conn. The 2022 Legislators of the Year Honorees from the
Greater NY Region are: Sen. Anna Kaplan, Asw, Jessica Gonzalez Rojas, Assembly
Speaker Carl Heastie.
Sen. Anna Kaplan (7th Senate District)
In the Greater New York Region, Sen. Anna
Kaplan was recognized for her commitment to help educate constituents on Long Island
how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Even before
taking office, Sen. Kaplan and her staff meet with the Red Cross to discuss
partnership opportunities to help support her constituents after local
disasters including home fire. She has hosted Red Cross preparedness programs
in person and virtually. In addition, Sen. Kaplan rolled up her sleeves to
install smoke alarms on Long Island as part of the Red Cross South the Alarm.
Save a Life. campaign. Sound the Alarm helps to raise awareness of the
importance of having working smoke alarms.
Asw. Jessica Gonzalez Rojas (Assembly District 34)
In the Greater New York Region, Asw.
Jessica Gonzalez Rojas was recognized for her dedication to building more
resilient communities. After local fires as well as after larger disasters like
Hurricane Ida, Asw. Gonzalez Rojas has stood alongside the Red Cross to help
support residents and also help protect their neighbors through preparedness
education.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (Assembly District 83)
In the Greater New York Region, Speaker Carl
Heastie was recognized for his lifetime of service dedicated to supporting
everyday New Yorkers. Speaker Heastie was the first elected official to help the
Red Cross launch virtual Hands-Only CPR training during the COVID pandemic,
where via Zoom instructors taught people this life saving skill. In addition,
the Speaker has joined Red Cross volunteers to install free smoke detectors as
part of the Red Cross Sound the Alarm campaign. In fact, he will join the team
out today to help further bring awareness to this life saving program.
Eastern NY Region
The American Red Cross Eastern New York Region
is comprised of three chapters along with 3 blood donation centers: Central
& Northern New York Chapter; Hudson Valley Chapter; and Northeastern New
York Chapter. Together, these chapters serve a population of more than 3.6
million people across 27 counties and more than 51,000 square miles. The Legislator of the Year from the Eastern NY
Region is Sen. Daphne
Jordan
Sen. Daphne Jordan (43rd Senate
District)
The Eastern NY Region recognized Sen. Daphne
Jordan for her steadfast commitment to provide lifesaving information to her
constituents. Specifically, during the pandemic, Sen. Jordan went door to door to
help educate families about fire safety after a tragic fire in her district.
She also hosted blood drives during the pandemic – a time when the blood supply
was facing critical shortages.
Western NY Region
The American Red Cross, Western New York
Region, spanning 27 counties, comprises three chapters – Western NY (Buffalo),
Greater Rochester, and the Southern Tier. The Western New York Region is a
significant part of the storied history of the American Red Cross as founder
Clara Barton established the very first Red Cross Chapter in Dansville, NY in
1881.
The Legislators of the Year from the Western
NY Region are Asm. Demond Meeks and Senate Minority Leader Robert G. Ortt
Asm. Demond Meeks (Assembly District 137)
The Western NY Region recognized Asm. Demond Meeks for his key support of the American Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative, which works to ensure sickle cell patients are able to access the critical treatment they need. As a champion of this effort, he sponsored two blood drives, collecting 76 units, and activated partner groups to help recruit blood donors.
Senate Minority Leader Robert G. Ortt (62nd Senate District)
The Western NY Region recognized Senator Robert G. Ortt for his service to our nation, and his staunch support of initiatives to help veterans, which aligns to the Red Cross Service to Armed Forces program. Sen. Ortt has also hosted preparedness training for his constituents, to ensure they have the information and tools they need to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Last year, during the pandemic, Sen. Ortt also sponsored a critical blood drive to help ensure blood products would be available to people in need.
Prior Red Cross New York State Legislators of the Year include:
2019: Asm. Richard Gottfried, Asm. Crystal People
Stokes, Sen. Thomas O’Mara and Asm. John McDonald.
2020: Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, Sen.
Timothy Kennedy, Sen. Joseph Robach, Asm. Al Stirpe, Asm. Angelo Santabarbara
and Asm. Marcos Crespo.
2021: Sen. Joseph Addabbo, Sen. John Brooks, Sen.
Patrick Gallivan, Sen. Sue Serino, Asm. Martiza Davila and Asm. Donna Lupardo
During calendar year 2021, the Red Cross in
New York State:
- Responded to 9,000
disasters; of those responses, 6,595 were home fires
- Assisted 23,395 people
during local responses
- Hosted 10,125 blood
drives and collected 227,157 units of blood thanks to 115,075 blood donors
reside in the state
- Made 6,999 homes safer
through the Home Fire Campaign
- Supported 5,965 military
members, veterans and their families
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red
Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies
about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes
international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and
their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on
volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For
more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org,
or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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