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JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Sean Reed eats one of his cookies he usually sells to raise funds for the American RedCross when a disaster occurs. Sean received the Youth Hero award Wednesday at Spanish Hills Country Club.

As part of its mission to provide emergency disasterrelief, the American Red Cross Ventura County chapterlikes to single out members of the community who havestepped up to help others.

At its second Heroes Breakfast at Spanish Hills CountryClub in Camarillo, five awards were handed out

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Red Cross salutes honorees for Ventura CountyBy Anne KallasPosted April 30, 2014 at 5:20 p.m.

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JUAN CARLO/THE STARSean Reed walks up to gethis Youth Hero award duringWednesday’s Red Crossbreakfast at Spanish HillsCountry Club.

PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO,VENTURA COUNTY STAR

JUAN CARLO/THE STAR JimMcGee, CEO of the AmericanRed Cross Ventura Countychapter, addresses the crowdWednesday at Spanish HillsCountry Club.

PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO,VENTURA COUNTY STAR

JUAN CARLO/THE STARMark Kirwin looks at his wife,Angela Kirwin, during areception for recipients of theAmerican Red Cross VenturaCounty chapter’s awardsWednesday morning. Thecouple received the GoodSamaritan Hero award duringa breakfast at Spanish HillsCountry Club.

Wednesday. The breakfast also was an opportunity tohelp the Red Cross meet its goal to raise $125,000,which was reached by raising more than $15,000 at theevent.

“This is about thanking you and our gratitude. Everyonein this room is a leader. I have words of wisdom I live by, and one phrase is, ‘Peoplefollow people.’ Together, we are stronger. We have to come together when disasterstrikes,” said Jim McGee, CEO of Red Cross Central Coast.

Jason Carignan, a member of the Red Cross board ofdirectors, said the five people and organizations beinghonored make living in Ventura County better.

“Our fear is that at some point, we will all be called toserve in a disaster,” Carignan said. “We live in a delicatearea. It’s beautiful, but the winds remind us of thedangers.”

The Youth Hero award went to Sean Reed, 9, a studentat Ventura Charter School. Sean was inspired as akindergartner to start raising money to help victims ofthe 2011 Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Since then, Sean, now in fourth grade, has raised more than $2,000 by organizingbake sales and contributing the money to the Red Cross.

“The Red Cross is good at sending money where it’s needed,” said Sean, who hopesto be a primatologist when he grows up.

Mom Kris Humphries and dad Doug Reed said theywere proud of their son.

“He has a great understanding of the world around us.He’s interested in things that are scholastic, and hewants to get involved,” Doug Reed said.

Good Samaritan heroes Angela and Mark Kirwin cameface-to-face with a horrific disaster after a tsunami struckwhile they were vacationing in Ranong, Thailand, withtheir two children in 2004.

While the family escaped harm, they decided toestablish the Kirwin International Relief Foundation inthe aftermath of the tragedy.

“Anyone can make a difference. We choose to make adifference, and it’s so rewarding. If a fourth-grader can do it, so can anyone any age,young or old,” Angela Kirwin said.

Cesar Morales, Oxnard School District superintendent, said keeping children inschool was part of the motivation for offering the campus of R.J. Frank IntermediateSchool for people displaced by an Oct. 4 fire in Oxnard that left 76 people homelessand destroyed nine buildings. The K-8 district was named the education hero.

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PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO,VENTURA COUNTY STAR

JUAN CARLO/THE STAREddie Torrijos (from left),Cindy Nestor and RonOatman received the FirstResponder Heroes awardduring Wednesday’sbreakfast.

“The first shelter was at Oxnard College, and we hadbus service there the next day for those students,”Morales said.

After the Oxnard College shelter closed, the schooldistrict stepped up.

“We mobilized all departments with the support of theschools,” Morales said.

Members of the Ventura County Fire Department, whichwas named first responder hero for its role in battling theSprings Fire of May 2013, said they were just doing theirjobs.

“This is inspiring, but we’re as good as the training we get. When we get the call, wecan utilize that training,” firefighter Eddie Torrijos said.

The corporate hero award went to Reiter Affiliated Cos., the largest fresh berryproducers in Ventura County. Reiter was recognized for its efforts to provide healthcare to its employees for $6 a week. The company also gives out community grantsto help fight diabetes and obesity.

“In caring for its complete family, RAC embraces health, safety and giving, parallelingthe philosophies of the Red Cross,” according to the Red Cross.

© 2014 Ventura County Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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