Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage

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2023 Event

Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage presented by Burn Prevention Network

SAVE THE DATE! OCTOBER 17 AT DESALES UNIVERSITY!

Sponsorship Opportunities are available now. Click below for more information and contact Cori Rolón to secure your sponsorship.

VPSOC Sponsorship Packet 2023

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2022 Pictures

Thank you to all who attended in 2022!

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2022 Awardees

The Walter J. Okunski Phoenix Award

Chris Kudela | Gilbertsville, PA

Nominator: Elisha Elliott Leavy, Social Worker, Walter Okunski Regional Outpatient Burn Recovery Center, Lehigh Valley Health Network Regional Burn Center

Award is sponsored by MedEvac-LVHN, Department of Public Safety.

The Partner in Prevention Award

B Daniel Dillard | Bethlehem, PA

Nominator: Corissa Rolón, MA CFRE, Executive Director & CEO, Burn Prevention Network

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Kristen Simpson | Scranton Counseling Center, Scranton, PA

Kenneth Moore –  Scranton Counseling Center, Scranton, PA

Michael Ruane – The Prescription Center, Scranton, PA

Nominator: Bill Citino, Scranton Counseling Center, Scranton PA

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Ryan Chu – Eastern Salisbury Fire Department, Allentown, PA
Dennis Takacs, Jr. – Eastern Salisbury Fire Department, Allentown, PA
Richard Rolen – Eastern Salisbury Fire Department, Allentown, PA
Joshua Wells – Western Salisbury Fire Department, Allentown, PA

Nominator: Chief Ian Dodson, Eastern Salisbury Fire Department, Allentown, PA

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Kenneth Brooke, Jr. – City of Reading Department of Fire Rescue, Reading, PA

Nominator: Deputy Chief Michael Glore, City of Reading Department of Fire Rescue, Reading, PA

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Kenneth Brooke, Jr. – City of Reading Department of Fire Rescue, Reading, PA
Matthew Azrolan- City of Reading/Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Reading, PA
Joshua Green – City of Reading/Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Reading, PA
Cody Schaeffer – City of Reading/Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Reading, PA
Timothy Conti – City of Reading/Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Reading, PA
Jeffrey Schrack – City of Reading/Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Reading, PA
Patrick Walls – City of Reading/Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Reading, PA

Nominator: Michael Glore, deputy chief, City of Reading Department of Fire/Rescue Services

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Steven Turner – City of Reading/Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Reading, PA
Kurtis Knauss – City of Reading/Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Reading, PA

Nominator: Michael Glore, deputy chief, City of Reading Department of Fire/Rescue Services

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Eric Billimoria – Lower Saucon Fire Rescue, Bethlehem, PA
Bryan Evans – Lower Saucon Fire Rescue, Bethlehem, PA
Chris Miller – Dewey Fire Company, Hellertown, PA
Scott Nocek – Lower Saucon Fire Rescue, Bethlehem, PA

Nominator: Fire Chief Ty Johnson and Fire Chief Matt Simkovic, Dewey Fire Company

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Seth Yahraes – Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Company, Wind Gap PA
Paul Strohl – Posthumous award

Nominator:  Chief Alexander Cortezzo III, Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Company

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Benjamin Steidinger – Germansville, PA

Honorable mentions for this award:
Megan Saltsman – Lehigh County 911 Dispatch, Allentown, PA
Shane Devlin – Lehigh County 911 Dispatch, Allentown, PA

Nominator: Deputy Chief Randy Metzger, Chief Jay Scheffler Germansville Fire Department

 

Spirit of Courage Award

Robert Watkins – Nesquehoning, PA
Thomas Kattner – Nesquehoning, PA

Nominator: Fire Chief John McArdle, Nesquehoning Hose Company #1

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2022 VPSOC WFMZ Broadcast Event

Broadcast Event

 

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2023 Nomination Forms

NOMINATE A HERO TODAY!

Each year, we celebrate heroes from Eastern PA. We cannot do that without nominations from people in the community!  The Spirit of Courage awards are given to individuals or groups that have performed exceptionally courageous acts to save someone from death or serious injury from any fire source. Civilians and first responders may receive this award. The rescue attempt must have involved a significant degree of personal risk – exposure to either death or severe injury – occurring between April 1, 2022 and March 30, 2023

Award winners will be honored at the 18th annual Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage Award Celebration to be held at DeSales University on Oct. 17, 2023.

VPSOC Nomination Form