Red Cross to Honor First Responders and Neighbors at 2026 Inland Empire Heroes Awards in Ontario
Ontario, California (Our Hesperia) –The American Red Cross will host the 2026 Inland Empire Heroes Awards and Luncheon on March 17 at the Ontario Convention Center, honoring first responders, volunteers and businesses from Riverside and San Bernardino counties for courage and community service.
Key takeaways
- When: Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; venue is the Ontario Convention Center.
- Who: Honorees include first responders, nonprofit leaders, veterans, businesses and a youth volunteer from Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
- Purpose: The awards are both a public recognition program and a fundraiser supporting Red Cross disaster response, blood collection and military family services.
- Tickets / nominations: See redcross.org/IEHeroes for tickets and submissions.
Event overview and investigative context
The 2026 Inland Empire Heroes Awards and Luncheon is an annual Red Cross Inland Empire event that highlights acts of courage, humanitarian service and community impact across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The program serves as both recognition and fundraising for regional Red Cross services.
Investigative overview: who is being honored and why
The American Red Cross Inland Empire named a slate of honorees that includes first responders who risked their lives in emergencies, community volunteers who aided seniors and animals, veteran-support leaders and businesses that helped sustain blood donation efforts. The organization frames the program as a yearly public spotlight and fundraiser.
“Not all heroes wear capes – many of them are our friends and neighbors right here in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.” — Lois Beckman, Executive Director, Red Cross of Riverside County
Honorees and notable actions
The Red Cross announcement lists the following honorees and brief descriptions of their service:
- Animal Welfare Hero Award: CALFIRE Division Chief John Crater, Temecula — credited with saving a dog during the September 2024 Airport Fire (more than 23,000 acres burned, nearly 200 structures damaged).
- Corporate Hero Award: Fresh Up, Rancho Cucamonga — donated over $250,000 in WingStop meal vouchers across four years to encourage blood donation during shortages.
- Disaster Services Hero Award: Frank Kams, San Bernardino — named as a disaster services honoree; limited details in the announcement.
- First Responder Hero Awards: Deputy Christopher Cherms and Deputy Shawn Owens, Victorville — entered a burning home through heavy smoke in December 2025 to rescue an occupant, actions that directly saved a life.
- First Responder Hero Award: Deputy Fire Chief Gregory Lyle, Palm Springs — listed as an honoree; specific incident details were not included in the release.
- Gift of Life Hero Award: Captain Gustavo Araiza, Palm Springs — recipient named without incident specifics in the announcement.
- Good Samaritan Hero Award: Freddy Aguirre, San Bernardino — recognized for civilian heroism; limited public details in the release.
- Service to the Armed Forces Hero Award: Brian Barber, Victorville — Marine Corps veteran who founded Mission FISH in 2015; the program has served more than 5,000 veterans, first responders and family members for PTSD recovery through therapeutic fishing.
- Youth Hero Award: Carter Sliney, 13, Yucaipa — delivers handmade greeting cards to seniors through Smiles 4 Seniors to ease isolation.
Honoree photos are available for media use through the organization’s announcement materials and affiliated media channels; see the press release for media assets.
Sponsorships, funding and program reach
The awards function as a fundraising vehicle. Sponsor support underwrites Red Cross programs including disaster response, blood collection, health and safety training, and services to military families. The regional sponsor packet lists measurable results: more than 21,800 blood units collected, roughly 35,100 people trained in health and safety classes, and about 3,800 services delivered to military families in the region.
Named sponsors for 2026 include:
- Hometown Hero Sponsor: Circle K ($25,000)
- Regional Sponsor: U.S. Bank ($15,000)
- Presenting Sponsor: Sysco Riverside ($10,000)
- Community Sponsors: Altura Credit Union, DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont, IAPMO, Inland Empire Business Journal, JJ Roofing, Ed Monie, Ontario Convention Center, San Antonio Regional Hospital and others ($5,000 level).
The packet details sponsor benefits including logo placement, event tickets and premium tables, selection committee roles, and tax-deductible donation tiers.
What the Red Cross says about the program
The organization describes the Inland Empire Heroes Awards as part of a Southern California series that includes similar recognition events in Orange County and San Diego. The program emphasizes community nominations year-round and encourages public participation. Yevette Baysinger, Executive Director of the Red Cross of San Bernardino County, is quoted in the announcement:
“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.” — Yevette Baysinger
Event and press materials are posted on the Red Cross event page and the press release.
Gaps and questions worth watching
The Red Cross release provides robust highlights for several honorees but leaves limited public detail for others (the Disaster Services Hero, Deputy Fire Chief Lyle, Captain Araiza and Good Samaritan Freddy Aguirre). Reporters or readers seeking fuller accounts should contact the Red Cross press office or consult the full sponsor packet and press materials for more context, photos and statements.
How the awards fit local civic life
The awards blend recognition and fundraising, creating public visibility for first responders, volunteers and civic groups. For communities facing tight budgets and growing emergency needs, such events offer a public mechanism for private-sector support and volunteer recruitment. Programs like Mission FISH — highlighted among honorees — provide low-cost, volunteer-driven services that supplement government supports.
Implications for Hesperia, California
- Recognition of nearby first responders: Honorees from Victorville and Yucaipa underscore regional first-responder activity near Hesperia and may boost local morale.
- Local partnerships: Sponsor examples such as Fresh Up, Circle K and U.S. Bank show models for civic-business collaboration that Hesperia organizations could emulate.
- Blood supply and preparedness: The region’s blood drive activity and training efforts suggest opportunities for Hesperia groups to host drives and trainings in partnership with the Red Cross.
- Veteran and responder services: Mission FISH and similar programs operate regionally and may offer resources for Hesperia veterans and first-responder families.
- Civic engagement: Hesperia residents can nominate neighbors year-round at redcross.org/IEHeroes.
Event logistics and media resources
When: 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Where: Ontario Convention Center, 2000 E Convention Center Way, Ontario, Calif.
Media interested in photos or interviews should consult the Red Cross press release and the sponsor packet for credential and contact details. Tickets and sponsorships are posted at redcross.org/IEHeroes.
