Red Cross Extends Deadline for 'Hero' Nominations

Do you know a hero living here in Peabody or on the North Shore?

The American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts has its 11th Annual Heroes Breakfast planned for the DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore hotel in Danvers in March.

The nomination period had originally been closed but it now has been extended to Jan. 18. The nomination form is attached to this story as a PDF.

The Red Cross says to ask yourself: "Is there a member of your community who has done something extraordinary? Someone who exhibits care and compassion for others?"

Those are the types of people the Red Cross is looking for its six awards:

• Community Hero: An individual, couple, or family “Good Samaritan” involved with an event, project, or on-going effort that directly benefits the community.
• Enduring Hero: A person who has made a difference in the community by engaging in many different activities over a long period of time.
• First Responder Hero: A Firefighter, Police Officer, EMT, or other first responder who has performed an act beyond the call of duty.
• Youth Hero: A student (elementary, middle, high school or college) who demonstrates leadership qualities, or is involved with an event, project, or on-going effort that directly benefits the community.
• Education Hero: An exemplary educator (elementary, middle, high school or college) who is highly qualified, deeply committed to their vocation, and is dedicated to improving educational standards both for students and fellow educators.
• Healthcare Hero: A physician, nurse, home care worker, or other healthcare provider who has delivered outstanding services.

In 2012, Peabody Firefighter James Rice was posthumously honored with a Fallen Hero Award while Peabody Learning Academy Director Seith Bedard received the Education Hero Award.

The territory for the American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts runs from Amesbury down to Lynn and is based out of Peabody. The awards breakfast is March 21. Nominees must either live or work in the communities served by the Red Cross chapter or their heroic act occurred in the service area.