Plymouth Man Wins Gift of Life Award, Selected as Red Cross 'Hero'

Douglas Szarkowski of Plymouth has been named a recipient of the 2013 American Red Cross Heroes Awards.

One of 10 Heroes in the Northern Minnesota Red Cross Region, Szarkowski will receive the "Give Life Award" at the annual American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, June 6, for playing a significant role in ensuring the health of patients in our local communities and throughout the country due to his commitment to blood and platelet donation.

According to people who know him, Szarkowski lives his life without regard for recognition or repayment. He’s been described as “a man of deeds not words.”

“We couldn’t do what we do, as well as we do it, without the generosity of donors like Doug,” says Tim Bailey, a Red Cross supervisor in blood services. “His continued and unwavering commitment to patients in need makes him deserving of this recognition from the American Red Cross.” 

Szarkowski has inspired his two daughters to be regular blood donors as well.

When acquaintance and Red Cross Supervisor Kathy Gross asked him what motivated his daughters to become platelet donors Szarkowski said that “they saw dad doing an adult thing and when they became adults that’s what they wanted to do.”

He very humbly notes that he really didn’t do much of anything to encourage them. Szarkowski has reached his 80-gallon milestone, while “Team Szarkowski” is approaching 100-gallons.

This year’s Heroes will be honored at the annual American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, June 6, at Target Field Legends Club in Minneapolis. The public is invited to attend, help recognize local heroes and support their local American Red Cross. 

Tickets and table sponsorships are available online at redcross.org/mn/minneapolis or by calling(612) 872-3207.

The American Red Cross Heroes Awards raise awareness about ordinary people whose extraordinary actions exemplify the Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Each hero was nominated by a member of the community and selected by the 2013 Heroes Breakfast Nomination Committee. 

Sponsors for the 2013 Heroes Breakfast include presenting sponsor General Mills and additional sponsors CHS, Ecolab, Medica Foundation, Medtronic, St. Jude Medical Foundation, Thomson Reuters, Travelers, UnitedHealthcare and US Bank.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization—not a government agency—and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. 

Comprised of six community chapters, the Northern Minnesota Region serves 4.3 million people in 45 counties in northern Minnesota and three counties in western Wisconsin.

Learn more at redcross.org/mn/minneapolis.