By Daily Press staff
The spirit of volunteerism will be alive at an awards ceremony honoring Santa Monica Red Cross contributors.
The 2006 Spirit Awards will be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica on Feb. 11.
The awards will recognize a commitment to service on behalf of the American Red Cross. This year’s honorees include Kitty Dukakis, who is being honored for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of worldwide youth interaction and empowerment, as well as for her 2004 tsunami relief efforts.
A posthumous spirit award will go to Santa Monica Police Department officer and United States Marine Corp. reservist Major Ricardo “Rick” Crocker, who was killed in the Al-Anbar province in Iraq on May 26, 2005. Crocker was a volunteer for the Santa Monica chapter of the Red Cross, as well as an inspiration to all who knew and worked with him.
Spirit awards also will be given to Lion’s Gate Entertainment and Activision, Inc. — local companies who contributed to and encouraged significant employee volunteer efforts benefiting American Red Cross Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief efforts.
The gala event will include a reception and silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. with dinner and the awards ceremony beginning at 7:30 p.m. The mistress and master of ceremonies are Alley Mills and Orson Bean. Dance music will be provided by the Tom Nolan Band.
Excerpts from a documentary about volunteers working Hurricanes Katrina and Rita disaster relief will be previewed at the 2006 Spirit Awards. In addition, there will be a variety of music and comedic entertainment, as well as recognition of some of the 100 local individuals who journeyed to the South and volunteered for hurricane disaster relief efforts.
The event will mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the American Red Cross and the launching of the Santa Monica chapter’s community disaster response fund. Tickets are $150 each and are available at the American Red Cross, 1450 11th St. To order tickets, call (310) 394-3773 or fax (310) 451-3226 during normal business hours.
All proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross of Santa Monica which is a publicly supported, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides health and safety education, youth services, CPR and first-aid training, disaster awareness and disaster relief efforts. Foer featured for 2006 Citywide Reads program
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 20, 2005. Read the original PDF.