Palisades Resident Wins Top Red Cross Award For Volunteers

Longtime Red Cross volunteer Nanci Hodash of Palisades has been awarded the Clara Barton Award, the highest honor for a Greater NY Red Cross volunteer. 

Named for the founder of the American Red Cross, the Clara Barton Award honors the top volunteer of the year, one who has made an outstanding contribution to the Red Cross mission and embodies the humanitarian principles of the organization.

Hodash received the award at the 2011 Volunteer Recognition Event and Awards Ceremony held in Manhattan on Dec. 1, 2011. Although the evening culminated with the presentation of Clara Barton Award award, this annual event also recognized and thanked the thousands individuals who volunteer their time in support of the Red Cross mission — locally, nationally and sometimes internationally.

“Where do I begin to list all the ways Nanci Hodash embodies the spirit of the Red Cross?” said Dianne Auger, interim regional CEO of the American Red Cross in Greater New York, who presented the Clara Barton Award. “It would be impossible to list every single way that Nanci’s work has strengthened the organization as well as the trust and confidence local community partners place in the Red Cross.”

Hodash joined the Red Cross in February 2000 as a Disaster Services volunteer. She has helped bring assistance to those affected by disasters at scores of local house fires, major floods and other emergencies.

Recently, Hodash put her experience and leadership skills to work during Hurricane Irene as a Red Cross Government Liaison in the Rockland County Emergency Operations Center and as a shelter supervisor and feeding coordinator supporting four Rockland County shelters.

“We are privileged, grateful and honored to have Nanci on our team,” said Auger. “She is well deserving of this award.”

Special recognition was also given to 11 other volunteers and one partner organization for their extraordinary commitment to helping the Red Cross bring comfort and assistance after a disaster.