Nashville Area Red Cross Recognizes Volunteer Achievements

Local Residents Honored with Awards from the Tennessee Region 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 23, 2021 – The American Red Cross Nashville Area Chapter recently recognized its exceptional volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to help people in need.  

“We are grateful for the dedication of our volunteers, whose support makes a compassionate difference for our neighbors in need,” Joel Sullivan, regional and local chapter director said. “In thanks for their dedicated service, we have presented Stephen Durham, Cindy Manley, Tigist Tilahun, and Tricia McDowell Red Cross volunteer awards for the vital role they play in carrying out our mission in our community.” 

In the Tennessee region, more than 2,600 people volunteer with the Red Cross by responding to home fires and other disasters, supporting blood collections, providing emergency assistance to military families, and much more. These individuals are among the more than 300,000 volunteers who comprise more than 90% of the national Red Cross workforce. 

This year’s award winners are:  

Stephen Durham with Joel Sullivan,
Tennessee Red Cross Regional Executive

Stephen Durham of Hendersonville, received the Disaster Services Chapter Award to recognize his contributions in responding to house fires across 11 counties, setting up shelters, leading shelter teams, and being a constant support to clients across our community. “Stephen is dedicated, compassionate and always eager to support the mission of the Red Cross,” Sullivan said. 

Cindy Manley with Joel Sullivan

Cindy Manley, of Nashville, received the Regional Excellence Award for Disaster Services to recognize her contributions in onboarding and engaging new volunteers by learning a new volunteer’s motivations, interests and ideas to match them with the perfect volunteer opportunity. “We pride ourselves on being a volunteer led organization and Cindy is a true leader. Everything Cindy touches, she does with her trademark enthusiasm, attention to detail and dedication to a job well done,” he said.  

Tigist Tilahun with Joel Sullivan

Tigist Tilahun, of Antioch, received the Regional Youth Award to recognize her contributions after joining the Red Cross in April 2019. An active high school student, Tilahun formed a Red Cross Club at Knowledge Academy in Antioch and worked to have a blood drive in her school. “Tigist stepped up during her final year of high school and volunteered as a Blood Donor Ambassador to help during the pandemic with screening donors prior to their blood donations,” Sullivan said. “Even during the onset of COVID-19, she wanted to continue to serve. Her efforts helped us to continue to provide lifesaving blood products to patients in area hospitals during a critical time in our history.”   

Tricia McDowell

Tricia McDowell, of Nashville, received the Fundraising Chapter Award to recognize her commitment and dedication to raise money to support the mission of the American Red Cross. “In a year fraught by the multitude of challenges by the pandemic, Tricia’s leadership in high level roles to support fund development in our organization has been exceptional,” Sullivan added. “Her leadership has supported growth in women’s philanthropy through our Tiffany Circle, with over $1 million raised by our Tiffany Circle women in fiscal year 21.” McDowell is also a board member of the Nashville Area Chapter.  

If you are interested in becoming an American Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up online. 

Donor Spotlight: Jackie and Victor Miller

Jackie and Victor Miller are regular platelet donors and are on a first name basis with the staff at their local American Red Cross blood donation center. 

Jackie and Victor book their platelet donation appointments together for every other Sunday morning and cheer each other on during their donations. Combined, they have donated over 1,000 units. They never miss an appointment and book well in advance to make sure the units are available for those undergoing cancer treatment.

 

Jackie notes, “It is our way of giving of ourselves in a way that truly saves lives and it’s something so easy to do for others.”

 

Work and family commitments – and even a pandemic – didn’t stop this couple’s commitment to give. Their dedication is the perfect example that everyday heroes can make a world of difference for patients counting on platelets.

Murfreesboro Platelet Donor Shares Why He Is Committed to Making a Difference

Tyler Andrews, a photographer and podcaster, routinely donates blood at the Heart of Tennessee Red Cross Chapter in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He began donating blood when he was frustrated he couldn’t give back financially. One day he was donating blood next to a man who doing the same thing, but the only difference was the man was a multi-millionaire. That’s when it clicked for Andrews.

“As I was sitting on the bench donating blood, I looked over and realized my blood donation was every bit as valuable as the other guy’s,” Andrews said. “There was literally nothing I could have done to make that donation more valuable in that moment than exactly what I was doing.”

Andrews goes faithfully once a month to donate platelets, tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding. For millions of Americans, platelets are essential to surviving and fighting cancer, chronic diseases and traumatic injuries. Since platelets must be used within five days of donation, platelet donors are constantly needed and Andrews is happy to help meet the need.

Donating platelets is personal for him because several loved ones required platelets during their cancer treatment. It started when his mother developed advanced stage IV breast cancer. “A couple years after that, my father-in-law had a blood cancer, and he needed platelets. Then my sister-in-law had a blood cancer, and she needed platelets,” Andrews said.

When Andrews visits the Heart of Tennessee Red Cross Chapter office, he is always amazed by the teamwork of volunteers and the community. From volunteers who answer the phones and greet blood donors, to community members who make regular donations, it takes collaboration to carry out the American Red Cross mission to collect blood and platelets.

“Because this is something that is necessary for the preservation of life, there really aren’t any small actions,” Andrews added. “It’s all lifesaving.”

How you can help cancer patients: Give Blood to Give Time

FACT: Cancer patients use nearly one-quarter of the blood supply – more than patients fighting any other disease. And there simply aren’t enough people donating regularly to meet the need.

That’s why the American Red Cross and American Cancer Society have teamed up to encourage people across the country to Give Blood to Give Time. When you donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross, you’re helping cancer patients receive the care they need.

Cancer takes so much, but you can help.

In August 2016, Myel Bowers-Smith received an unexpected and life-changing medical diagnosis. What she thought was an infection from a mosquito bite was actually stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer. The cancer was a very rare and aggressive breast carcinoma that spread from her breast to her lymph nodes on the left side of her body. “I just knew something wasn’t right with my body,” she said.

Myel was determined to keep a positive attitude even when her treatments left her feeling sick for days at a time, unable to eat and extremely fatigued. “I received five different chemotherapy treatments and steroids. I also received multiple plasma and platelet transfusions. I would be in the hospital bed for hours receiving treatments,” she said. 

The need for blood in cancer treatment is an important and often untold story. Cancer patients, like Myel, may require blood products on a regular basis during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications. Platelet transfusions are often needed by cancer patients to help prevent life-threatening bleeding.  

 

After months of treatment, Myel was told her cancer was in remission in February 2017. “I was more than excited because I survived. I won, and it was time to get my life back! This couldn’t defeat me,” she said. 

 

Myel recognizes the role of blood products in her recovery and now encourages others to give. “Everyone needs someone, and this is your time to help someone who needs your blood or platelets. Be a blessing,” she said. “Eligible donors, you have something good – which is your blood. A pint of blood can help save lives, and you never know if you or someone you love would need donated blood or platelet products.”

You might not be able to change a cancer diagnosis or treatment, but you can help those going through it by donating blood or platelets.