Red Cross Board Member Roxanne L. Benzel received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Humanitarian Services on March 27. The award ceremony was held at the National Awards and Recognition Dinner in Washington, DC at American Red Cross national headquarters. Benzel’s award was presented by American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern and American Red Cross President for Humanitarian Services Harvey E. Johnson, Jr. The Presidential Award for Excellence is presented to an individual or group of employees or volunteers who demonstrate exceptional performance or service in support of the Red Cross delivering on its multi-faceted mission. Benzel was one of 25 stellar American Red Cross volunteers and employees to be selected to receive a national award.
Benzel is Chair Emeritus and Chair of the Diversity Committee for the American Red Cross New Hampshire & Vermont Region Board of Directors. She has served on the Board since 2013, and is currently serving her third term. She works for BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector as Continuous Improvement Leader and is a Lean Systems/Six Sigma Black Belt.
“It was truly an honor to be among the winners from across the country of the Presidential Award for Excellence,” Benzel said. “I felt very privileged sitting alongside those who are awe-inspiring in their work, and to meet those volunteers and staff who tirelessly carry out the mission of the American Red Cross.”
Nominees for the award must go beyond meeting organizational goals and expectations, and must exemplify the highest level of commitment to Red Cross values and the execution of service and performance. Benzel was nominated and endorsed by multiple Red Cross Board members, who described how Benzel has served as a diversity champion on the board, working with the nominating committee to help create a board that is diverse in gender, industry, age, and experience. Benzel was also instrumental in helping the Red Cross merge its New Hampshire and Vermont regions into one, which included merging two boards.
Involvement and dedication are also words used to describe Benzel’s work on behalf of the board. She is the Board’s Immediate Past-Chair, she has participated in meetings for every board committee, including chairing the nomination committee and chairing the diversity and inclusion committee. Benzel has represented the board at the regional and national level.
Photo, from left: Gail McGovern, President and CEO, American Red Cross; Roxanne Benzel, Member, Board of Directors, American Red Cross New Hampshire & Vermont Region; and Harvey E. Johnson, Jr., President for Humanitarian Services, American Red Cross.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.