Service Above Self: Jim Rogers

Written by Remy Kennedy
Photos courtesy of Jim Rogers

Jim Rogers shared a favorite quote with us: “Rivers do not drink their own water. Trees do not eat their own fruit. The sun does not shine on itself. And flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature…” It resonates with him because of his beliefs around volunteering. “I believe you have to give back. A lot of people want to, but they don’t know how to get involved. Everybody I’ve asked to volunteer has always done it,” said Jim. 

Working at Hilliard Lyons as the COO (Chief Operating Officer) for 30 years, Jim spends his retirement time helping the community. He serves on the board of directors at the University of Louisville, is a trustee for the Kentucky Colonels, and he’s a previous board member for our Red Cross Kentucky Region. Jim now chairs our Red Cross disaster committee. He has also volunteered at the Neighborhood House and Lincoln Heritage Boy Scouts of America in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Jim is passionate about our organization because “Red Cross basically saved both my kids’ lives. My son had a total blood transfusion at birth. My daughter in her early teens also had a blood transfusion for different reasons. For my son, it was life and death. It was the last option available… It was Red Cross blood donors that saved their lives.” 

A Portland neighborhood native, growth opportunities in the west end is part of Jim’s mission. He led the initiative to install smoke alarms in Portland neighborhoods as part of our Sound the Alarm campaign. He teaches CPR & First Aid classes, and almost all staff at the Neighborhood House have been certified thanks to Jim’s efforts. He believes education is the key for kids who live in underserved areas. “I mean education holistically. I think trade schools are wonderful. Not every kid needs or should go to college… Growing up in a family business, education could mean starting your own business. Betterment of yourself.” 

Jim frequently gathers with his high school classmates, collectively raising funds for educational tools benefiting youth on the west end. “Everywhere, I believe you can’t be what you can’t see. These kids, they don’t see jobs at Red Cross. They don’t see a bank. A 17-year-old shadowed me at my office one day. I had her come down to sit in operations, sit in the IT department. She saw people of color doing all these jobs she never knew existed,” he said. 

Jim has deployed with Red Cross to Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Kentucky. “I’m one who wants to be boots on the ground. I don’t want to sit in the office and supervise. I want to be out helping people. Feeding them, bringing them supplies, doing disaster assessment,” he explained. His favorite part? Developing bonds with people. “When I got back from feeding a church in New Orleans, all the families in the church got together and sent me a huge Louisiana care package. Beignets, chicory coffee, t-shirts, and pictures. Just a thank you for me being down there. I developed all these friendships.” 

Jim and his family

A Life of Service

We want to take a moment to honor the life of Bob Adelberg. Bob was a husband, father, and Red Cross volunteer. He served his country as a Lieutenant Commander in the US Coast Guard Reserve. Bob was a member of the University of Louisville Athletics National Anthem Committee, held 7 minor principal roles for the Kentucky Opera, and served as Kentucky 3rd District Republican Chair from 1984-1990. 

Bob singing The Star-Spangled Banner
 at Slugger Field

We are privileged to have witnessed Bob’s commitment to giving back as he was a Red Cross volunteer for over 55 years. His impact on the community was undeniable and we will miss him. During his time volunteering, Bob saved at least 3 lives on separate occasions using CPR/First Aid, was a lifetime board member, and was a deserving recipient of many awards. Bob won the Red Cross Ina J. Porter Leadership award, the Seasoned Saint Volunteer Award, and the Volunteer Leadership award for Blood Services. He was a member of 8+ additional Board of Directors throughout his life.

Please join us in offering condolences to Bob’s family. We are thankful for the many years of service he gave to helping others.

Bob, heading out on an Emergency Response Vehicle to help
with feeding

Kentucky Red Cross Recognizes Presidential Award Nominees

This week, we were pleased to recognize two volunteers for their extraordinary service to the Kentucky Red Cross. Congratulations to Marcia Brey and Sally Higgins for receiving this recognition and representing the Kentucky Region as nominees for the National Red Cross Presidential Award.

Marcia Brey

Marcia, from Louisville, is truly a volunteer who leads by example. Marcia is as comfortable leading the Louisville Area Chapter board as she is going out into the community to install smoke alarms. She is both a high level strategist and a boots on the ground doer. This is a rare quality that makes her invaluable to the organization. As an engineer for GE Appliances, she has combined her eye for detail with her heart for service to organize and lead seven smoke alarm installation events over the past few years. This is unprecedented throughout the region, division and across the country.

Sally Higgins

Our second recipient, Sally, is from the Frankfort area and is active throughout the region as a Disaster Services volunteer. There’s not much that she doesn’t have her hand in. The Kentucky Red Cross depends on her as an instructor, as someone who responds to disasters big and small, and as a mentor and guide to our new volunteers. Her peers know her as someone who expects a lot from herself, from others and from the Red Cross. She brings out the best in others and propels us all to be better at fulfilling the mission of the Red Cross.

Thank you, Marcia and Sally, for all you do here at the Red Cross!

Learn more about becoming a volunteer here.

Steve Cunanan to Become Region CEO for the American Red Cross Kentucky Region

The American Red Cross is proud to announce the appointment of Steve Cunanan as the new Chief Executive Officer of the organization's Kentucky Region. In his new position, Cunanan will also serve as the CEO for the Louisville Area Chapter, one of five chapters in the region.

Cunanan succeeds Jennifer Adrio, who now serves as the CEO of the
American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region.

The Kentucky Region — comprised of the Louisville Area, Bluegrass Area, Eastern Kentucky, South Central, and Western Kentucky Chapters — provides an array of essential services to more than 4.2 million residents in a 117-county area that stretches from most of Kentucky to three counties in Southern Indiana.

Cunanan, who will begin working in his new job on September 16, will oversee an operation which includes nearly 2,500 volunteers and 193 employees. This combined workforce responds to more than 2,000 local disasters each year throughout the Kentucky Region; similarly educates residents on emergency preparedness; deploys to disasters outside the region; supports the collection of blood products; teaches health and safety course to individuals and companies; delivers aid to international Red Cross partners; and provides support to military members, veterans, and their families.

Cunanan comes to the position with Red Cross knowledge and experience, having been a board member for the Louisville Area Chapter and Kentucky Region for five years, assisting and leading on several key fundraising committees. From 2013 – 2018, Steve served as Chief Administrative and Chief People Officer for Kindred Healthcare, with overall responsibility for the company’s human capital initiatives.

The Kentucky Region’s Home Fire Campaign, a smoke-alarm installation, and education program the American Red Cross launched nationally five years ago to reduce injuries and deaths from home fires, is second only to New York City in terms of impact, with over 39,000 homes made safer, nearly 55,000 smoke alarms installed and over 57 lives saved by the program. The Kentucky Region is also considered a leader in Service to Armed Forces programs, having the highest client satisfaction rating in the country. The region, for example, houses one of only three emergency call centers for active military members and their families (the Hero Care Center) in the world, in its Louisville Area Chapter building.

“I am thrilled to have someone of Steve’s caliber and experience to step up and lead the American Red Cross Kentucky Region,” said Marica Brey, Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Louisville Area Chapter and Kentucky Region. “Steve brings a wealth of business knowledge and deep leadership capabilities from his previous roles as VP of HR, and most recently, Chief People Officer at Kindred. In addition, Steve has been an active member on the Red Cross board for the past 5 years successfully leading and growing several committees, and he has a heart-felt passion for the Red Cross’s mission.”

“I am humbled and honored to serve as the new Regional Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Kentucky Region. The Red Cross has been a passion of mine for many years, serving as a volunteer and board member.  Now, it is my deep privilege to serve the organization as its leader across the region.  I look forward to working alongside our dedicated volunteers and staff to live our mission and serve those in need,” said Cunanan.  

Kentucky Red Cross Honors the Life of Dr. Virginia Keeney

Dr. Keeney, left, with Marcia Brey and Madeline Abramson
at the 2018 Annual Board of Directors Meeting

This week, the Kentucky Red Cross honors the life of one of our lifetime board members, Dr. Virginia Tripp Keeney. Dr. Keeney passed on Wednesday, May 29.

Dr. Keeney completed her first year of medical school at the University of Louisville, where she was one of four women in her class of 100. She put her degree on hold in 1946 when the Army sent her husband, who had just received his M.D., to Korea as a member of the U.S. occupying forces. Dr. Keeney went along and worked at the Army hospital in Pusan alongside her husband. When her husband’s tour of duty was over, they returned to the United States and she completed her medical degree at the University of Louisville.

2017 Blood Mobile ribbon cutting ceremony

Dr. Keeney gave back to her patients and her community her entire life. She became a pioneer in the field of medical ethics, and received the Citizen Laureate of Louisville award for her service in 1962 as the Kentucky co-coordinator of the first-ever national polio vaccination drive, Sabin Oral Sunday. She was also the first woman appointed to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.

In addition to her work in the medical field, Dr. Keeney also served on many boards and commissions over the course of her life. She was a lifetime board member of the American Red Cross, and served as Chairman of the American Red Cross Board of Directors from 1995-1997. She was received the American Red Cross Clara Barton Honor Award twice. The Clara Barton Honor Award is the highest award the American Red Cross bestows on volunteers. It recognizes meritorious service in volunteer leadership, of which Dr. Keeney was well deserving.

Dr. Keeney and Bob Adelberg, 2011 Wrapped in Red Gala

Her life truly epitomized what being a humanitarian is and she represented all that the American Red Cross stands for. We at the American Red Cross are grateful to have had her passionate support and leadership for almost four decades.

#MyStoryMonday: Jim Rogers

Written by: Gabby, Holy Cross High School Intern

Jim Rogers is a volunteer who is willing to do whatever it takes to contribute to an organization. He has been a member of the Red Cross since July 2, 2014 and has served more than 746.5 hours. Jim a member of the Board of Directors, but is so much more than that. He is a volunteer partner to the Kentucky Region's Regional Disaster Officer, a Disaster Action Team Member, an Emergency Response Vehicle driver, and Disaster Workforce Responder. Disaster Workforce Responders provide preparedness services and information before a disaster strikes. They also assist those who have experienced a disaster and need help with their recovery.

In the past 12 months, Jim has gone to Texas to help out with Hurricane Harvey and served as a shelter worker and an ERV driver delivering meals to those affected. He has been to Marshall County High School to help Evelyn Miller, Executive Director of the Western Kentucky Chapter, support and build local community partners. Jim also served in various roles during the flooding in the Louisville Area during the months of February and March. He has assisted in the hiring process for the disaster department, and he is very essential in the helping of growing the staff’s abilities to hire talent. Jim even goes out to help with current volunteers on expanding their skills. Thank you, Jim, for all you do!

Learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross here.

Dave Sanderson Speaks to Red Cross Donors at Le Relais

A volunteer from the American Red Cross was one of the first  people to greet
Sanderson when he made shore in New Jersey after the crash on the Hudson.

Dave Sanderson is someone who was an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation. He was a top sales producer in every company he worked for and on January 15th 2009 was on a business trip he had made hundreds of times before. Like all of us when we travel, especially on business, things are often routine and we take things for granted. Then out of the blue something happens that changes what was once routine to a day that changes your life.

When US Airways Flight 1549, or “The Miracle on the Hudson”, ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, Dave Sanderson not only survived the “crash” but also started to realize the moments which made up his life, prepared him for what was about to happen.

Sanderson spoke about his experience with the first responders
and Red Cross volunteers who assisted him following
the crash on the Hudson.

After the incident, the lessons and strategies he learned throughout his life were instrumental that day and the days following. He started to realize one can grow from traumatic life experiences and set out on a path to not only share the lessons from that day, but practical and implementable strategies anyone can use, to not only survive their “personal plane crash” moment, but grow and thrive.

Dave shared his story with Red Cross Kentucky Region board members and donors at Le Relais in Louisville, KY. In his stirring presentation, Sanderson revealed the inner strength it took to make it through the day, and how you can grow from challenges throughout your personal and business life and how resiliency, leadership, and state management can help you not only overcome any obstacle, but grow and thrive! How all the moments in your life MATTER!

View more photos from the event on our Flickr.

To learn more about the American Red Cross, or to become a volunteer, please visit redcross.org/volunteer.

National Volunteer Week: Dr. George Pantalos

What is service? Is it being enrolled in the armed forces? Is it fighting fires or helping people flee disasters? Is it helping families get in contact with loved ones overseas?

Service can be a multitude of different acts of kindness: Just ask the American Red Cross and their longtime man of service, Dr. George Pantalos. Dr. Pantalos first became involved with the Red Cross in 1962. Initially serving as a swim and first aid instructor, Dr. Pantalos has served the Red Cross in many roles throughout the years.

Dr. Pantalos in the process of
donating during a competition
to see who could bring in the most donors.

One of the significant ways Dr. Pantalos contributes to the Red Cross is through blood, plasma, and platelet donations, with his first donation occurring 22 years ago during graduate school. Pantalos attended Ohio State University (OSU) for training in biomedical engineering and cardiovascular physiology. His donations continued when he took a faculty position at the University of Utah and increased in frequency when he moved to Louisville due to the Red Cross’ proximity to his office.

Dr. Pantalos understands the importance of blood in sustaining life and the large impact donations can have on those whose well-being relies on such donations. Dr. Pantalos’ wife and three children also share his dedication to blood and blood product donation. Pantalos enjoys participating in the annual blood donation competition between OSU and their Michigan rivals. Pantalos and his daughter Natalie, a current OSU student, refer to this annual participation as their “daddy daughter donor date.”

The FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of the blood donations through establishing criteria to decrease the risk of transmitting infectious diseases. While everyone may not be able to donate blood or blood products for a diverse range of reasons, Dr. Pantalos emphasizes the many avenues individuals can take to get involved with the Red Cross and ensures that “one way or another, there is a place for you here.”

Knowing that hundreds of thousands people are positively helped by the Red Cross gives Dr. Pantalos a sense of pride in his beloved organization, and motivates him to continue serving through monthly blood donations and other means. He appreciates everything the Red Cross has to offer and helps to support every aspect of the Red Cross. To answer the question “what is service?” look no further than Dr. Pantalos. He is true model of what service looks like and will continue to be a part of the Red Cross family for as long as he can. Dr. Pantalos’ advice to those who are thinking about becoming a part of the Red Cross team is to work hard, learn a lot, make new friends, and enjoy the people you work with.

If you would like to find out more about joining the Red Cross as a volunteer, please visit www.redcross.org/volunteer

Volunteer Profile: Debbie Ranier

Meet Debbie Ranier, a Red Cross volunteer who knows just how far a helping hand can go. Her way of life growing up helped mold her into a very supportive and giving person. Her grandmother volunteered often and helped her understand the importance of being there for others.

In March 2012, Debbie witnessed the aftermath of a horrific tornado that swept through Morgan County. She saw firsthand through her job at Servpro how much the Red Cross is needed in these disasters and how we postively impact communities near and far. From that day forward, she knew the Red Cross was an organization she wanted to be involved with.

Debbie’s most memorable Red Cross moment occurred last spring while she was assisting with a mass distribution in Morehead, Kentucky. “A man pulled up to receive supplies and while I was handing them to him he said ‘I have always given to the Red Cross, but never thought I would ever need the Red Cross,” she said.

Having been with the Red Cross for two and a half years now, Debbie has a bright future with the organization. She currently serves as a board member for the Eastern Kentucky Chapter, and she is a newly appointed Community Volunteer Leader. Her willingness to be a positive factor in the community is ever-growing.

“A typical day for me with the Red Cross is impacting others to find it in their heart to have a passion for giving to this wonderful organization,” said Debbie. “Describing volunteering to be rewarding to me is an understatement.”

If you would like to join the Red Cross as a volunteer, please visit www.redcross.org/volunteer.

Volunteer Profile: Ainsley Jones

Ainsley Jones

Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Ainsley Jones is a lifelong Red Crosser. His father, Larry Jones, served as a Louisville Chapter volunteer for more than 30 years, and quickly involved his son in the organization -- as an infant, Ainsley starred in a public service announcement centered on the chapter’s efforts to help families impacted by local disasters. During the summer, his father would drive him all across Kentucky, and together, they would visit various chapters. “My dad was my soulmate and best friend, his work with the American Red Cross was and still is an inspiration to me, the first item I ever took to school for show and tell was my dad's Disaster Services hard hat,” Ainsley explained.

Ainsley became more involved with the Red Cross and spent his adolescent years volunteering and taking preparedness and safety classes. He even recalls a time when was able to use skills he learned to help to save his dad’s life. “I ventured out of my room to discover my dad choking in our kitchen. I remember distinctly going through all the steps I had learned as a Junior Red Crosser to dislodge the scrambled eggs he was choking on,” said Ainsley.

Larry Jones

Following in his father’s footsteps, Ainsley currently serves a board member for the Louisville Area Chapter. While his role on the board is still evolving, he feels he serves as an ambassador for the American Red Cross every day. When he wears a Red Cross logo, he feels the same sense of pride his father felt when he volunteered for the Red Cross.

While he cites the Red Cross as one of the major influences in his life, Ainsley also holds other interests as well. He is a huge fan of soccer, and the sport is very important to him. “The way I think and approach tasks are rooted in the philosophies soccer has brought into my life,” he said. He considers himself a student of cinema and shares a love for architecture, interior design and landscaping.

“My favorite quote from Martin Luther King Jr. is ‘Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' I feel like it embodies the mission of the American Red Cross and reiterates that it's your blessing to be able to help people in need regardless of their circumstance.” Ainsley encourages everyone to go out and volunteer with the Red Cross.

If you would like to join the Red Cross as a volunteer, please visit www.redcross.org/volunteer.