This Special Gala Help Raise Funds While Celebrating the Unsung Heroes from Law Enforcement, Fire, and Hospitals from Orange County who Provided Compassionate Care to Victims and Survivors of Crises
ANAHEIM, CA, February 24, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On Wednesday, Feb. 19th, TIP (Trauma Intervention Program) of Orange County celebrated their 30th anniversary with the Gala "Heroes with Heart" which recognized heroes from law enforcement, fire, and hospitals who went "above and beyond" the call of duty during 2023- 2024 in providing compassionate care to victims and survivors of crisis. Recipients of HWH Awards are unsung heroes, who, at this event, were given the public recognition they deserve. Sponsored by "Wildest Dreams, Gick Family Fund" and Hosted by ABC's Legal Analyst Matt Murphy, with Honorary Chair OC Sheriff Don Barnes, attendees enjoyed a great night with dinner, awards, raffles, the music of SUGAR RAY, performance by the AOCDS Pipe Band with the OC Sheriff Department Honor Guard, and special celebrity presenters Michael Beach (The Rookie) and SAG Award winner Patrick Gallagher (Glee/Big Sky).
Award recipients at this year's gala included the Newport Beach Police Department including Officer Pierson Loska, members of the OC Sheriff's Department Deputy Anthony Garza, Sergeant Daniel Packham, Sergeant Lena Hillard, Deputy Lindsey Rhodes, Richard Sanchez, Sergeant Robert Boaz, Deputy Coroner Tara Alfonzo, and former OC Sheriff's Department member Olivia Sanchez. Also recognized were Irvine Police Department's Officer Scott Foster & Wilson Emel, UCI Medical Center RN Alexandra Barnette and Dr. Rebecca Coleman, UCI-Los Alamitos RN Mike Ruffalo, UCI-Placentia-Linda RN Sabrina Coleman, and OC Fire Authority's Captain Ryan Van Wie and Engineer Henrik Petersen. Additional awards were given to OC Global Medical Center RN Kirstin Chaney, Fullerton Police Corporal Austin Grogan, Hoag Hospital Newport Beach's Joon Lee, Laguna Beach Police Sergeant David Gensemer, Costa Mesa Police Officer Emanuel Sanchez, and Anaheim Police Officer Kevin Choi.
Sponsors of the "Heroes with Heart" Gala included Wildest Dreams, Gick Family Fund, Valor Technical Cleaning, Levendi Napa Valley, O'Connor Mortuary, John Battle Spirits, Asana Recovery, Shannon Family Mortuary, Dignity Memorial, Apris Trauma - Crime Scene, Lisa & Jon Mowrey Charity Trust, Susan & Jeff Hamar, and Mark & Shauna, Atchity. TIP of Orange County staff includes Executive Director MaryEllen Lowrey, Training & Resource Manager Debs Fyvie, Crisis Team Manager/Medical Liaison Bev Lewis, Crisis Team Manager Sharon Richards, and Events Manager Gretchen Sheppard.
For those not familiar with TIP, they are an instrumental non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that those who are emotionally traumatized in emergency situations in Orange County receive the immediate assistance they need. TIP is comprised of over 100 specially trained and screened volunteers available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. TIP crisis volunteers are called by law enforcement, fire and hospital personnel to assist victims, families, friends, witnesses and bystanders by providing emotional support and practical resources.
Survivors of tragedy get a higher level of care because TIP is involved. TIP contributes more than 60,000 hours of volunteer time per year to the community. Having TIP on a scene lowers the stress level of emergency workers and helps them focus on the details of their job. TIP's volunteers provide emotional first aid to survivors of tragedy in order to ease their immediate suffering and facilitate their healing and long-term recovery.
Trauma Intervention Program of Orange County is a 501 C (3) tax exempt organization. Services are provided to survivors and their families free of charge and are made possible through sponsorship from local governments and agencies, gifts from individuals and businesses, foundations and through fundraising efforts. You can make a donation through their donation page here: TIP Donation Page
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