Sickle Cell Disease/Trait Impacts Mom and her Four Children

By Communications Director Melody Birkett “When I had my first son, who’s now 10, I knew I had the trait and then I found out he had the trait,” said Tesia Jackson. “At that time, I wasn’t as aware that the trait had symptoms. I struggled growing up with being tired and having aches and

Blood Drive for Teen Helps Save Dozens of Lives

By Communications Director Melody Birkett After Jackson Bickler was diagnosed with cancer, he needed a lot of blood, platelets and plasma transfusions. He goes weekly for chemotherapy and just completed 30 days of radiation. He’s thankful for everyone who donated blood last week.    “This is just so cool for a blood drive at Corona,

Volunteer Spotlight – Liz Alvarez

By Red Cross Communications Volunteer Lois Dupre Elizabeth Alvarez, one of our Region’s volunteers, says that she is continuallyinspired by her Red Cross colleagues. Coming up this month on 6 years of service with about 20 deployments, she still strongly remembers her first DAT supervisor, Craig Brelsford. When she’d seen and commented on how much

Meet Pat Farmer and Lynn Sagara, AZ/NM Tiffany Circle Members

By Public Information Officer Mike Sagara Lynn Sagara has 52 years of Red Cross service as a paid staff worker and a volunteer. Lynn is a Board Member, a Past Board Chair, and a Tiffany Circle member for five-plus years. Lynn was invited to attend several Tiffany Circle events in the Phoenix area hosted by

“Fitting In” – Engaging Rural Communities

By CEO Volunteer Partner Derek Rieksts Red Rock, Arizona, population 2,625, is a small town just off I-10 in Pinal County Arizona, 32 miles north of Tucson.  Red Rock is a diverse, rural agricultural community that is transitioning from farmland to tract homes.  Conventional wisdom is that it will eventually become a Tucson bedroom community.

New Central and Northern Arizona Chapter Board Members

By Communications Director Melody Birkett Sara Van Houten We first want to introduce Sara Van Houten from Snell & Wilmer. She counsels employers on design, operation and compliance of their employee benefit and executive compensation plans. Sara also works with public and private companies to design and draft incentive compensation programs, omnibus equity plans, severance

Employee Spotlight: Ron and Dawn Winnett

By Communications Volunteer Mike Sagara Dawn Winnett, R.N. is a Therapeutic and Cellular Solutions Manager. Dawn supervises sixteen nurses in six states. Her team is responsible for stem cell collections that are used to treat cancer patients, stroke patients, bone marrow transplants, and more. Stem cells serve as a repair system for the body. Dawn

Mental Health in the Face of Disaster

By Regional Communications Manager Georgi Donchetz Being a Disaster Spiritual Care volunteer is not an easy task. Not only do you need experience in the field, an endorsement letter, and an interview, you also must go through 50 hours of coursework! But in the face of disaster, this volunteer position is critical in ensuring the

Volunteer Spotlight: Beth Anderson

By Communications Volunteer Shawna Sealander Meet Beth Anderson, American Red Cross volunteer. She was born and raised in Wisconsin, and worked 30 years in the senior housing business ensuring delivery of services to thousands of people, mostly those 80-plus years of age. She has been a Red Cross volunteer for over a decade. Retired and

Courtney Slanaker Leads the Tucson and Southern Arizona Red Cross ….and She Can Also Drive a Forklift!

Courtney Slanaker is a native of Tucson and it shows. She knows her way around southern Arizona and the best hometown restaurants for miles around. She is as comfortable on a horse as she is driving her truck. She sees people she knows everywhere she goes, and stops for a hug and catching up on