Red Cross to Honor First Responders and Community Volunteers at Inland Empire Heroes Awards 2026 at Ontario Convention Center
Ontario, California (High Desert News Online) – American Red Cross will host the Inland Empire Heroes Awards and Luncheon March 17, 2026, at the Ontario Convention Center, honoring first responders, veterans and youth from Riverside and San Bernardino counties and raising funds for local Red Cross services.
- When & Where: Inland Empire Heroes Awards and Luncheon — March 17, 2026; registration 11:00 a.m., program noon; Ontario Convention Center. See the event page.
- Honorees: First responders, veterans, business partners and youth — including CALFIRE Division Chief John Crater, Fresh Up, Deputies Christopher Cherms and Shawn Owens, Deputy Fire Chief Gregory Lyle, Captain Gustavo Araiza, Brian Barber and 13‑year‑old Carter Sliney. See the press release.
- Sponsorship & Impact: Sponsor levels range from $25,000 Hometown Hero to $2,500 Neighborhood; sponsorships support blood drives, training and military services. See the sponsor packet.
Event overview
The American Red Cross will host its annual Inland Empire Heroes Awards and Luncheon on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the Ontario Convention Center, 2000 E Convention Center Way, Ontario. Registration opens at 11:00 a.m. with programming beginning at noon. Individual tickets and sponsorships are available and nominations and ticket info can be found on the event page.
Honorees and citation highlights
The Red Cross of Riverside County announced the 2026 honorees on Feb. 26. Each category reflects the Red Cross mission of courage and compassion in the Inland Empire; the organization posted an official press release with names and brief descriptions.
- Animal Welfare Hero Award — CALFIRE Division Chief John Crater, Temecula. Recognized for actions during the September 2024 Airport Fire (more than 23,000 acres burned and nearly 200 structures damaged); Crater protected people and property and rescued a dog from a trapped homeowner.
- Corporate Hero Award — Fresh Up, Rancho Cucamonga. A four‑year partner that donated more than $250,000 in WingStop meal vouchers to support blood donations and help address shortages across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
- Disaster Services Hero Award — Frank Kams, San Bernardino. Honored for disaster services work (details summarized in the Red Cross announcement).
- First Responder Hero Awards — Deputy Christopher Cherms and Deputy Shawn Owens, Victorville; and Deputy Fire Chief Gregory Lyle, Palm Springs. Cherms and Owens responded to a December 2025 Victorville house fire; Cherms entered through dense smoke to search for occupants while Owens prepared extraction. The release provides fewer specifics for Lyle.
- Gift of Life Hero Award — Captain Gustavo Araiza, Palm Springs. Named for life‑saving contributions (incident details not specified in the release).
- Good Samaritan Hero Award — Freddy Aguirre, San Bernardino. Recognized as a community Good Samaritan (no further particulars listed in the release).
- Service to the Armed Forces Hero Award — Brian Barber, Victorville. A Marine Corps veteran who founded Mission FISH in 2015; the nonprofit offers fishing therapy events for veterans, active‑duty members, first responders and Gold Star families and has served more than 5,000 participants.
- Youth Hero Award — Carter Sliney, Yucaipa. At 13, Sliney makes and delivers handmade cards to local seniors through Smiles 4 Seniors to reduce isolation; noted as the youngest honoree in this program.
Sponsors, fundraising and regional impact
Major sponsors include Circle K (Hometown Hero), U.S. Bank (Regional) and Sysco Riverside (Presenting), alongside local community sponsors. Sponsorships fund Red Cross programs such as blood drives, training and military services. Sponsorship levels and benefits — from logo placement to committee involvement — are detailed in the sponsor packet.
The Red Cross cites regional program metrics to summarize impact: more than 21,800 units of blood collected, 35,100 people enrolled in training, 3,800 military and family services provided, and support for 2,200 volunteers in the Riverside and San Bernardino region.
Voices from the Red Cross
Lois Beckman, executive director of the Red Cross of Riverside County, said: “Not all heroes wear capes — many of them are our friends and neighbors right here in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.”
Yevette Baysinger, executive director of the Red Cross of San Bernardino County, added: “Thanks to the generous support of our event sponsors, we are able to honor remarkable heroes from across the Inland Empire and strengthen our ability to deliver vital Red Cross services when our communities need them most.”
Notes, open questions and media resources
The Red Cross listing names many honorees but does not always provide full narratives for each citation. The organization has posted honoree photos for media use; reporters may request additional background directly from local Red Cross offices for fuller profiles.
For ticketing, nominations and more information, visit the event page or the Red Cross regional hub at the press release. The Red Cross also lists year‑round nominations (note: the posted nomination deadline for the 2026 class was Dec. 17, 2025).
Background and broader implications
The annual Inland Empire Heroes Awards celebrates local acts of bravery, volunteer service and community care while raising funds for disaster response, blood collection and training across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Similar Red Cross recognition events are held in the region, including Orange County and San Diego.
Implications for the High Desert and surrounding communities include:
- Economic: Event spending and sponsorships steer local dollars into Red Cross programs and event production, supporting hospitality vendors and nonprofits.
- Political: Honoring first responders and veterans can influence public recognition and partnerships between government and nonprofit emergency planning.
- Social & Cultural: Recognitions promote volunteerism, mental health supports (e.g., programs like Mission FISH) and civic engagement among youth.
Media access and contact
Honoree photos are available for media use via the Red Cross press materials; reporters and community members seeking interviews or additional detail should contact local Red Cross offices. For direct event information and resources visit redcross.org/IEHeroes and the official press release.
