Red Cross Prepares to Honor Hometown Heroes

SPRINGFIELD — The American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter’s 2009 Hometown Heroes Breakfast will take place on Wednesday, March 18 at the MassMutual Center.

This annual event honors local individuals (or groups of individuals) who have shown courage, kindness, and unselfish character when a friend, family member, or stranger faced a life-threatening situation, or who have had an extraordinary impact on his or her community or other people.

The slate of nominees is being finalized, and interested sponsors are invited to participate in this celebration of the spirit of humanitarianism.

This annual signature event is the chapter’s largest fundraising event, providing resources to support the work of the Pioneer Valley Chapter throughout our communities. From 24/7 disaster relief to life-saving training programs and emergency communications services to the U.S. military, this event helps to ensure the fiscal strength of the local Red Cross chapter.

This year’s event is once again presented by Comcast, with the Home Builders Assoc. of Western Mass. featured as major sponsor. Support is also provided by Zasco Productions for the production of the event and by MassMutual Center and Boston Culinary Group as facility and catering sponsors this year. In addition, Channel 22 News donates its production expertise in promoting the event and creating the video tributes to the annual nominees.

Various sponsorship levels are available, including Award Level sponsors, providing businesses with the opportunity to assist in the presentation of an award to an honoree. Sponsorship information is available on the chapter’s Web site at www.redcrosspioneervalley.org.

For more information, contact Paige Thayer at thayerpa@usa.redcross.org or (413) 233-1003.