13th annual Real Heroes Breakfast set for April 7
PRESQUE ISLE — The 13th annual Real Heroes Breakfast, sponsored by the Aroostook County Branch of the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter, will be held Thursday, April 7 at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle.
At the breakfast, which begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Edmunds Conference Center on the NMCC campus, six Real Heroes awards will be presented to county people and two Extra Mile awards to a county business and non-profit organization. The event is co-presented by the Pine Tree Chapter, NMCC, WAGM-TV and NMCC.
“The concept for the Real Heroes Breakfast has grown out of a desire to develop an event that is closely related to the mission of the American Red Cross — teaching people how to save lives,” said Joyce Knorr, Aroostook County Branch manager. “The Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
“This is done through the simple, yet powerful process of one person putting their needs aside to help other people,” she said. “What better way to celebrate this spirit of humanitarianism than by honoring those individuals who have shown courage, kindness, and unselfish character by their act of heroism in Aroostook County?”
One of the major non-profit events of the year, the Real Heroes Breakfast is made possible by the support of more than three dozen generous sponsors including KeyBank, Maine Public Service, TD Bank, Duncan Graves Funeral Home, Katahdin Trust Co., Aroostook Centre Mall, Cary Medical Center and Pines Health Services. Their representatives, and individual ticket buyers, together raise nearly $15,000 so that Pine Tree Chapter services can be provided for residents of every town, city, and plantation in Aroostook County.
“People attending this year’s Real Heroes Breakfast can expect to go through a lot of emotions,” said Knorr. “Every year there is laughter and tears, joy at the actions of these very special people and organizations, and pride at what county people do to help their neighbors and friends.”
This year’s Real Heroes will receive the Red Spirit Award, Neighborhood Friend Award, Every Day Helping Hand Award, Valor Award, Clara Barton Award and Young Courage Award.
For more information about the April 7 Real Heroes Breakfast, and to buy tickets while they last, e-mail Knorr at knorrj@pinetree.redcross.org or call the Aroostook County Branch at 493-4620 (ext. 108) in Caribou.
