Red Cross Recognizes 5 for Volunteer Work

Five San Fernando Valley-area residents recently received top volunteer awards at the San Fernando Valley Service Center of the American Red Cross’ Candlelight Awards ceremony.

Valley residents Pat Biddle, Robert Camacho, Terry Garnett, Jerry Kovacs and Pete Patino were recognized for their exemplary contributions to the Red Cross and the San Fernando Valley community, organization officials said Friday.

Biddle and Camacho received the highest local Red Cross honor, the Nancy Dubois Award, named after another exemplary local volunteer, said spokesman Mike Powers.

Biddle, of Van Nuys, has been a Red Cross volunteer since 1977. A mother of two and grandmother of one, she regularly performs administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, reserving rooms for classes and managing the local volunteer database.

Camacho, a Granada Hills resident, began volunteering in 1973 and joined the Valley Service Center in 1988. He has served as a volunteer shelter manager, public information officer and a Disaster Action Team leader.

“It just still gives me goose bumps,” Camacho said about the award given to him during the June 19 ceremony. “I think very highly of the organization. What I do for the Red Cross I do because I believe in the organization.”

Garnett, of Van Nuys, was recognized with the Red Cross General Services Candlelight Award for managing volunteers and recruiting new ones as a volunteer coordinator with the Valley center.

A Westlake Village resident, Kovacs received the Red Cross Health and Safety Service Candlelight Award for his work as a volunteer instructor at the Valley center, where he frequently teaches lifesaving courses such as CPR and first aid.

Patino, of North Hollywood, was honored with the Red Cross Disaster Services Candlelight Award for his work in training other disaster volunteers and coordinating classes in disaster services.