15Nov

Red Cross Announces Humanitarian of the Year Award


Daniel E. DeRose Selected as 2020 Recipient
Nominate Your Local Hero


Pueblo, CO, Friday, November 15, 2019 — Everyday in our community ordinary people perform extraordinary acts of compassion, community service, and heroism. The American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado celebrates those heroes at the annual Pueblo Hometown Heroes dinner that will be held at the CSU-Pueblo Occhiato Ballroom in Pueblo on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M.


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, Disaster Relief, Emergency Preparedness, and Health and Safety programs. For more information about this event visit our website at RedCross.Org/PuebloHeroes2020.

Daniel (Dan) E. DeRose

This year the American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado wants to recognize Daniel (Dan) E. DeRose, a lifetime Pueblo resident, businessman, and philanthropist.

Dan is President of Eastside Investment Partners, a private equity company that invests primarily in real estate projects in health care, retail, and senior living.

He is co-founder and President of DD Marketing (DDM), representing universities, K-12 School Districts, corporations, professional athletic organizations, non-profits, and municipalities in revenue generation projects. DDM has generated over $350,000,000 for said entities across the United States.

Dan is President and co-founder of Friends of Football (FOF), a 501(c)3 corporation whose mission is to enhance athletic programs at Colorado State University-Pueblo. FOF raised $14 million dollars to resurrect the football, wrestling and women’s track programs at CSU-P and constructed a top Division II football and track and field facility named the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.

Dan DeRose graduated from Colorado State University-Pueblo, earning his BSBA in 1984 and his MBA in 1985. For his athletic accomplishments, he was selected to the Rocky Mountain All-Century Team, Greater Pueblo Sports Hall of Fame, RMAC Hall of Fame, and the CSU-Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame.

For more information about the Pueblo Hometown Heroes Dinner please visit our website at https://www.redcross.org/local/colorado/about-us/news-and-events/events/pueblo-hometown-heroes.html.

Want to Nominate a Hero? Nominations Now Being Accepted!

The nomination period for the Pueblo Hometown Heroes Dinner – 2020 will remain open from now until December 1. Following that, a committee will determine which applicants should be recognized at the Dinner. To nominate a hero for the 2020 Pueblo Hometown Heroes Dinner visit our website at ColoradoHeroNominate.

Nominations for Hero Awards can be made in the following categories:

Adult Hero: (Age 18 and Over) Presented for a courageous or life-saving response that made an exceptional difference in or saved the lives of others.
Youth Hero: (Age 18 and Under) Presented for a compassionate response or life-saving skills
that made an exceptional difference in or saved the lives of others.
Military Hero: Presented to a member of the armed forces (active, guard, reserve, retired, or military spouse) whose actions went above and beyond the call of duty.
Animal Hero: Presented to an animal whose trained or innate skills helped save a life OR an individual OR nonprofit that performed extraordinary service related to the protection and safety of animals.
Community Service Hero: Presented to an individual who has performed an extraordinary community service that has made a difference in the lives of others.
Community Partner Hero: Presented to a business or organization whose compassion or life-saving actions made an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.
First Responder Hero: Presented to a First Responder (Police, Fire or EMS) or First Response Organization (Volunteer, Paid, Combined or Military) whose actions went above and beyond the call of duty to save a life or whose personal commitment to the community has made an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.