Special Thanks to our Heroes Celebration Sponsors
This year we honor XX local heroes and organizations who demonstrated their willingness to be more than just neighbors. Our local heroes continue to help build stronger communities by giving back, using life-saving skills, and risking their lives to help others.
Community Impact Hero – Brenda Swain – Falmouth, MA
Members of the Falmouth community are coming together in support of Falmouth Service Center Director Brenda Swain, who was diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 neuro endocrine stomach cancer earlier this year. Swain is the director of the Falmouth Service Center for last 18 years. As director, she has overseen the work of hundreds of volunteers operating the center’s services, such as the thrift shop and food pantry. After receiving the news of her diagnosis, she took medical leave in the summer. Brenda was honored as a member of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s 2016 class of Unsung Heroines in June 2016 in recognition of her tireless and selfless dedication to reducing hunger and helping individuals in her community.
Armed Forces Hero – Brian J. Hawkesworth – Dennis, MA
Brian is a disabled vet and Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Brian is a disabled vet and Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 96 and member of the AMVETS. He has given hundreds of hours of his time to assist veterans and families in processing their VA claims. He is also an event chairman for many Field of Honor programs.
Armed Forces Hero – Senior Ariman Daniel Ajoue – Dighton, MA
Daniel is a military police officer, 102nd Security Force Squadron at Otis Air Daniel is a military police officer, a member of the 102 Security Force Squadron at Otis Air Base. He has over 450 hours of volunteer work in 2019. On his way home one evening, he and his buddy noticed that a car had slid off the road and was on fire. Daniel and his friend were able to pull the woman to safety before EMS arrived. Both men stayed with the woman until help arrived; the woman’s car was totaled from spinning out of control, hitting a sign, then a tree, and catching on fire.
Community Service Hero – Peter Kelleher – Bridgewater, MA
Peter Kelleher is known as the “Soup Man”. Peter lost his son who died as a victim of the opioid crisis and was homeless. Upon losing his son, Peter needed to do something productive, and he decided to help others by providing soup. Through his non-profit organization known as “Support the Soupman”, he also distributes coats, boots, and survival backpacks that are filled with hats, sock, gloves and toiletries. These backpacks are distributed to those the Support the Soupman team encounter on the streets who may be homeless for a variety of reasons. Peter also has begun a shower initiative. The goal is to have a portable shower for the homeless in every major city in New England.
Community Service Hero – Luis Contreras – East Wareham, MA (Posthoumous)
Luis had quietly been an active volunteer and fundraiser for many years. He dLuis had quietly been an active volunteer and fundraiser for many years. He donated his time and money to many different fundraisers and town events. He helped to raise funds for child trafficking survivors, he anonymously sent condolence meals to families, he served homeless communities, and the list goes on. He was selfless and humble. Luis loved to help, serve and lift others up in their worst of times, never expecting any recognition at all. He was a good Samaritan who helped a family of 4 that was disabled, in the middle travel lane, when their car was struck by a deer. While assisting, Luis was struck and killed. Luis left behind a legacy that inspires kindness and love that is continuing to bring strangers together for the good of others. There were families looking to donate turkeys in his honor, talk of possible scholarships and other ways to continue giving and honoring his legacy.
Community Service Hero – Sarah Swain – Harwich, MA
Inspired to make a difference in her community after losing her mother to ovarian cancer, local musician Sarah Swain created annual Cape Cod Women’s Music Festival in her mother’s honor in 2012. In 2014, Sarah founded and is now CEO of the non-profit Cape Wellness Collaborative, which works with a team of over 100 outstanding local wellness professionals to provide free-of-charge integrative therapies to anyone facing cancer the Cape & Islands. For the past four years Sarah has spearheaded CWC’s biggest fundraiser, Dancing with the Docs, which has to date raised over $400k. After doing genetic testing herself and finding out she carried a high-risk cancer gene, in 2017, Sarah underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy and oophorectomy. When Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas this past Sept, Sarah spearheaded the event “Bands for the Bahamas” which raised over $20k for hurricane relief.
Community Service Hero – Bob, Colleen, Jake Kohl – Marstons Mills, MA
The Kohl family founded the Glenna Kohl Fund for Hope in honor of their daughter Glenna, a Barnstable Recreation Division employee whose life was cut short after a courageous three-year battle with melanoma. This fund provides education about the dangers of melanoma and to provide sun safety for our community in the form of sunscreen and shade canopies.
Life Saving Hero – Melanie Denbow – Sandwich, MA
Melanie was working as a lifeguard in Sandwich and has a great fear of dogs. Several hundred feet away, on another beach, Melanie heard dogs barking. She ran to where she heard the commotion and found the victim who had been bitten. Melanie administered lifesaving first aid skills to save a bleeding victim despite her fear.
Life Saving Hero – Maryanne Hanson – Holbrook, MA
Maryanne suffered from a traumatic brain injury several years ago after which Maryanne suffered from a traumatic brain injury several years ago after which she needed to learn to speak, walk, and take care of herself. She has residuals from the TBI and suffers from severe memory loss. Due to her quick and selfless act she saved a woman from choking by administering CPR and taking appropriate action while summoning help to arrive.
Life Saving Hero – Ross Dugan – New Bedford, MA
On his way home from work, Ross witnessed a car on fire following an accident. Ross rescued all four of the men from the burning car, while sustaining injuries to himself.
Life Saving Heroes – Firefighter Timothy Looney – Milton, MA & Firefighter Robert McGrann – Hanson, MA
Timothy and Robert rescued two parties from Cape Cod Canal and assisted with the transfer of two additional parties who were still aboard a sinking boat. Both FF Looney and FF McGrann performed admirably and with great distinction under perilous conditions in a situation that certainly would have resulted in the death of at least 2, if not all six occupants.
Life Saving Hero – Steven Mourao – Acushnet, MA
Steven assisted his friends while vacationing in Aruba. The couple was celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary when the husband was seriously injured after hitting his head on a rock while riding an ATV that had flipped over several times and ultimately landing on him. An ambulance couldn’t arrive for over an hour, and Steven continued to provide the necessary medical assistance.”
Professional Hero – Al Fantasia – East Freetown, MA
Al is Director of Respiratory and Pulmonary services at Cape Cod and Falmouth Hospitals. Al goes above and beyond the call of duty. He volunteered, in adverse weather conditions, to fly out to Nantucket to get the life-saving respiratory equipment to a premature newborn baby. He is also a rescue parent for pit bull dogs and has volunteered to care for an elderly patient’s dog so she could go to the hospital.
Professional Heroes – Andrew Weddell & Jonathan O’Loughlin – Bourne, MA
Trooper Jonathan O’Loughlin of the Massachusetts State Police and Police Officer Andrew Weddell of the Bourne Police Department worked together to rescue a man off the Sagamore Bridge in Bourne on October 11, 2019. The man was exhibiting erratic behavior and was attempting to jump over the concrete railing of the bridge in a suicide attempt. Trooper O’Loughlin and Officer Weddell were able to gain control of the man and bring him back to safety. The man was transported to a local hospital and is receiving help because of their efforts.
Red Cross Hero – Jane Robinson – South Dennis, MA
An active volunteer who over the last 12 years has assisted in disasters, both
Since 2008, Jane has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross in the area of disaster services assisting in emergencies and disasters locally, regionally, and nationally. Working in Disaster Services, Jane remains engaged in Client Casework, Sheltering, Group Feeding, Distribution of Emergency Supplies, Canteening in the community, Disaster Spiritual Care, The Home Fire Campaign, Service to the Armed Forces, and Community and Youth Education.
Beginning in 2013, Jane has been involved in The Pillowcase Project. The Pillowcase Project is the Red Cross signature program for youth emergency preparedness and safety. She holds the position of the Pillowcase Project Lead, and main presenter for the Cape, Islands, and Southeast MA. She has educated over 5,000 third, fourth, and fifth grade students in a significant number of elementary school classrooms across the state.
Youth Heroes – Ayden & Chayce Mello – Plymouth, MA
Ayden, 15 years old, and his brother Chayce, 11 years old, woke up in the middle of the night smelling smoke from a neighbor’s house. They woke the neighbors by pounding on the doors and windows, rescuing the family of four from a house fire. The super-heated gases that filled the home reached nearly 1,000 degrees.
Youth Hero – Caoimhe Assad – Mashpee, MA
Last year when Caoimhe was a second grader, she was deeply impacted by Officer Sean Gannon’s death. Caoimhe’s dad is a police officer in Mashpee. She wanted to find a way to honor our men and women in blue. This young girl raised money by bottle redemptions, bake sales and other fundraising efforts to purchase 1,000 medals of St. Michael the patron saint of police officers. She has delivered the medals to every police officer on the Cape. She has also delivered over 1,000 meals to police stations across the Cape. Last year when Caoimhe was a second grader, she was deeply impacted by Officer Sean Gannon’s death. Caoimhe’s dad is a police officer in Mashpee and her grandfather is a K9 handler at the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office. She wanted to find a way to honor our men and women in blue. This young girl raised money by bottle redemptions, bake sales and other fundraising efforts to purchase 1,200 St. Michael’s medals. St. Michael is the patron saint of police officers. She has delivered the medals to every police department on the Cape (including several departments in the state of MA). In many cases, she hand-delivered these medals to police officers across the Cape. This kind-hearted young lady shows grace, gratitude, generosity and optimism beyond her years.Last year when Caoimhe was a second grader, she was deeply impacted by Officer Sean Gannon’s death. Caoimhe’s dad is a police officer in Mashpee. She wanted to find a way to honor our men and women in blue. This young girl raised money by bottle redemptions, bake sales and other fundraising efforts to purchase 1,000 medals of St. Michael the patron saint of police officers. She has delivered the medals to every police officer on the Cape. She has also delivered over 1,000 meals to police stations across the Cape.
Special thanks to our Statewide Sponsors
We would like to thank our Central Chapter Board of Directors, whose dedication and guidance help shape the Red Cross in Cape, Islands and Southeast Massachusetts.
The Cape, Islands and Southeast Massachusetts Chapter serves a population of more than 1,273,000 people in the 15 towns of Barnstable County, the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket and Plymouth and Bristol counties. We are part of the Massachusetts Region of the Red Cross.
Sleeves Up, Hearts Open, All In 