Red Cross recognizes Queens pair

Two Queens residents and the Flushing Chinese Business Association were recently recognized by the American Red Cross for their contributions to the community.
The American Red Cross of Greater New York, which has about 5,000 volunteers, held its annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, June 1, and honored 23 individuals and two organizations. The event was hosted by Elisabeth Rohm, who plays an assistant district attorney on the NBC series Law & Order.
“Our volunteer family provides our community with dedicated people who enable us to achieve our mission to comfort those who are affected by emergencies and educate everyone about the importance of being prepared should an emergency occur,” said Teresa A. Bischoff, CEO of the Greater New York chapter of the American Red Cross. “Each and every one has something special to offer, and we are all the richer for their dedication to our well-being.”
The Flushing Chinese Business Association was given the Good Neighbor Award, which is “presented to an individual or organization outside of the American Red Cross for making a significant humanitarian contribution to the local community in support of American Red Cross in Greater New York.”
Between September 8 and September 16, the organization collected $80,000 to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Eventually, it went on to raise a total of $140,000.
Corona resident Mercedes Payano, who has been with the Red Cross since 2002, was one of nine volunteers to receive the Diversity Award. This award is given to someone who has been with the American Red Cross for at least a year and who, although their job does not require it, has made diversity-related tasks part of their work.
Payano said that she thought it was great that her dedication was being recognized. She also described the ceremony as being “beautiful,” adding that “everything was a nice set-up.”
Karen Kwan, a resident of Fresh Meadows and student at Manhattan’s Hunter College High School, was recognized with the Youth College Scholarship Award. Kwan has been a member of the American Red Cross of Greater New York’s youth group since 2002 and is now the co-chair of the executive board’s community outreach.
“I’m thankful to be receiving an award from the Red Cross,” Kwan said. “I’m honored that they think that the activities I do make a difference in the community.”