Crossville resident honored with award from East Red Cross
KNOXVILLE – A Crossville resident was one of two recently recognized by the American Red Cross East Chapter as exceptional volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to help people in need.
“We are even more aware of the great dedication of our volunteers, whose support makes a dramatic difference for our neighbors in need,” Sharon Hudson, local chapter executive director said. “In thanks for their dedicated service, we have presented Phil Zwieg and Bob Murawski with Red Cross volunteer awards for the vital role they play in carrying out our mission in our community.”
In the Tennessee region, more than 2,000 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 nationwide who comprise more than 90%of the national Red Cross workforce.
This year’s award winners are:
Phil Zwieg, of Crossville, received the Excellence in Operations Award to recognize his proficiency in using the Red Cross’ national data tracking system. Zwieg supports the Tennessee Region with EMAX support. His proficiency has increased to the level that he now tasks operations staff to provide updates on open cases. He has also provided tutorials on technical changes within the system. In addition, he analyzes facility traffic database sign-in sheets and assists with creation of reports to aid operations and regional chief operating officer on workforce planning. He has become an integral part of the operations team.
Bob Murawski, of Knoxville, received the Excellence in Disaster Services Award to recognize his many years as a staple in the mass care program. He recently stepped into the role of mass care lead when the chapter was responsible for responding to a 200-unit apartment fire. He expertly led the sheltering team by identifying issues within the shelter, managing staffing schedules and coordinating communication that enabled adequate feeding. Since stepping into his new role, he has secured a sheltering agreement with a new location that has the ability to house up to 200 people.
If you are interested in becoming an American Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up online.
