Puerto Rico Red Cross earns top national recognition

The Puerto Rico Chapter of the American Red Cross received five awards of excellence for services provided during fiscal year 2025, the highest number of recognitions among more than 45 regions nationwide, the nonprofit announced.
The awards were presented during the organization’s National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., and highlighted achievements in volunteer experience, disaster services, armed forces assistance, response to home fires and employee commitment.
“These achievements reflect the high level of commitment of all volunteers and chapter employees,” said Lee Vanessa Feliciano, regional executive of the Puerto Rico Chapter. “Their dedication, teamwork and commitment to serving the mission daily with excellence and fairness have earned us these important distinctions within our organization.”
In fiscal year 2025, the chapter responded to 384 home fires across the island, a 15% increase compared with the previous year. Surveys conducted with disaster victims and military personnel also showed improvements in satisfaction levels, underscoring the chapter’s impact.
Feliciano, who has served as regional executive for 14 years, has overseen responses to major emergencies including hurricanes Irma and Maria, the 2020 earthquakes in the island’s southwest and stateside relief efforts.
“These results confirm that when we work as a team, we can achieve great things. I am grateful for the support and trust I have received from the Red Cross at the divisional and national level, the board of directors, our volunteers and staff,” she said. “It’s an honor for me to lead this great humanitarian team that gives its best every day for our people.”