Pueblo, CO, Thursday, January 25, 2018, — Everyday in our community ordinary people perform extraordinary acts of compassion, community service, and life-saving. The American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado has chosen eight heroes to be honored at the event that will be held at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center in Pueblo on February 13, 2018.
Heroes to be recognized at the 2018 Pueblo Hometown Heroes Dinner
Humanitarian Award – Barbara Vidmar
Barbara Vidmar is a long-time resident and supporter of the Pueblo community. She and her husband Bill are active citizens and seem to thrive on their dedication to improving the community. She has served on Pueblo City Council, the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation and has been an active member of several local organizations. In a recent interview, Barbara stated, “We believe in playing key roles in our community. It hasn’t always been easy but we’ve managed to be very successful.” She is now retired but you would never guess it from her long list of activities.
Adult Hero – Terrance Cordova, Richelle Cordova, William Cordova and Jacob St. Laurent
When the Cordova family saw smoke coming from a home across the street they jumped into action and with the help of Jacob St. Laurent rescued a child and an adult from the burning home. According to the Pueblo Fire Department their act of bravery and heroism was responsible for saving a life of a child and without them the child would certainly have perished. “When we saw the smoke we knew we had to help,” said Terrance Cordova. “I had to break down the door. The child was covered with soot and was having trouble breathing.”
Community Service Hero – Jim and Paulette Stuart
Jim and Paulette are strong advocates of Pueblo and the town’s nickname as the Home of Heroes. Together they were a tremendous force and organized the 2000 and 2017 Medal of Honor Convention. The two events were huge successes for Pueblo especially considering that Pueblo is a much smaller community than the other cities that have hosted the annual convention.
Community Partner Hero – Pueblo Community College
Pueblo Community College (PCC) is a two-year, public, open access degree granting institution, accredited through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The College is one of the oldest in the state, and for nearly 30 years the College has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Pueblo Community College has been a driving force in Pueblo since 1933. It has supported the successful post high school education of Puebloans and gained notoriety for its contributions. Several programs within the College have directly supported the community. The Veterans Resources Center, Project Access and the Annual Thanksgiving Food Basket are examples of how they have cared for the students while the students work toward improving their education and their lives.
First Responder Hero Organization – Southern Colorado Emergency Medical Associates
The Southern Colorado Emergency Medical Associates (SCEMA) is a group practice that partners with Parkview Medical Center to provide exceptional quality emergency medicine for the Pueblo community. Members of SCEMA believe that emergency department physicians should be certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM). SCEMA’s members have received that certification and have provided outstanding emergency medicine for decades.
First Responder Individual Hero – Deputy Chief Rick Potter, Captain Steve Fassi and Firefighter Adam Houle – City of Pueblo Fire Department
During large-scale disasters, firefighters are often called upon to travel to the disaster scene and to provide search and rescue services. These three firefighters were quick to respond to the call and travelled into the disaster zone left after Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. They worked tirelessly for three weeks in the disaster zone while their families remained at home in Colorado. Assigned to one of the hardest hit areas they revitalized a small airport that then allowed other resources to fly in with supplies and people. They supported search and rescue efforts in Texas and Florida.
Student Organization Hero – CSU-Pueblo Associated Students Government
Students from the CSU-Pueblo Associated Students Government organized a campus relief effort that collected money and a variety of useful items for the people of Texas. The entire campus rallied and resulted in filling a 20-foot truck with thousands of items. The ASG students then drove the truck to the Houston area and delivered the items to people who were displaced from their homes. The students spent 3 days travelling to Texas, delivering the items and then returning to Pueblo.
Animal Hero – Pueblo Go Team & Service Dogs
Go Team Therapy Dog Team is a therapy dog team that provides services for the community members of Pueblo. They visit libraries, nursing homes, hospice centers, schools, children’s museums, and the court system. They can be found wherever stressful environments happen and they bring comfort and a smile to the people they meet.
The Pueblo Hometown Heroes dinner is an annual fundraiser for the American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado. Funds from this event are used to support all Red Cross services in southeast Colorado including the Service to Armed Forces Program, Disaster Relief and Health and Safety programs. For more information about attending this event or sponsoring a table visit our website at http://www.redcross.org/news/event/local/colorado/Pueblo-Hometown-Heroes-Dinner.