Once a year, the American Red Cross of the North Bay gathers to celebrate the extensive contributions of volunteers who live in Marin County and work to support their community through training and preparedness, disaster relief, service to the armed forces, blood services and international services.
On May 26, the American Red Cross of the North Bay honored eight local residents and one community partner at a recent recognition event for chapter volunteers from Marin County. The annual event was held virtually due to Covid-19.
Vincent Valenzuela, Disaster Program Manager of Solano and Marin Counties, and Marcia Antipa, a regional public affairs volunteer with the Red Cross and local broadcast journalist, served as emcees for the event.
This year’s Volunteer of the Year award went to Janet Rogoff of Mill Valley. A volunteer with the Red Cross since 2007, Rogoff serves as a mentor and co-leader to her fellow Red Crossers and is credited for helping revitalize volunteer engagement for the county.
“Janet is the embodiment of compassion turned to action,” said Eva Marquez, Volunteer and Youth Services Engagement Manager for the county. “Janet diligently interviews new volunteers to point them in the right direction within the organization. She is a good listener and an empathetic leader. Marin is lucky to have her.”
Other Marin residents honored at the event included Kay Tsenin, Anna Lane, Alisa Zhou, Steve Tulsky, Michelle Roberts, Mitch Ablove and Matt Elkins. The Red Cross also presented the Good Neighbor and Partnership Award to Marin VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster).
Volunteers constitute about 90 percent of the total Red Cross workforce — about 500 individuals in Marin — needed to carry out its humanitarian work. Red Cross volunteers are trained to meet the needs of those affected by disasters, providing food, shelter and comfort for families affected by major disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes as well as helping local residents prepare for and recover from emergencies of all kinds.
Event impact: Approximately 500 Red Cross volunteers in the North Bay meets the needs of those affected by disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes.
Donna Berry Glass is a freelance writer in Marin County who writes mostly about family and kid-oriented topics. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family exploring the natural beauty of Marin, snuggling with her Cavalier King Charles spaniel while reading a good book or whipping up something delicious in her space-challenged kitchen. Donna is a supporter of the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to seniors and disabled individuals.
