Key West, FL - Volunteers are the lifeblood of the American Red Cross, helping our community during times of disaster and teaching lifesaving skills such as CPR.

In the Lower Keys, Jennifer Potter has shown a tremendous amount of dedication working in the financial development department and helping people affected by disasters as a member of the Disaster Action Team.

She will be one of 19 volunteers honored on July 10 by the American Red Cross at John U. Lloyd

Jennifer Potter

Beach State Park, and will receive a volunteer of the year recognition for her work in the Keys.

Each year, the Red Cross pays tribute to volunteers from Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties who make a significant impact on the communities where they serve.

“Jennifer is positive, enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with,” said J B Hunt, Chapter Advancement Officer of the American Red Cross in Key West. “She is always ready to help others. She exemplifies our fundamental principles of humanitarianism and voluntary service, by being available and interested in helping her community.”

Potter founded and created the American Red Cross Youth Corps at Key West High School and organized a fundraising event, “Reach for the Stars” in 2003. She has volunteered as a DAT member responding to local fires comforting Keys residents who lost their homes. She also assisted her community during Hurricane Wilma by helping to shelter and feed people with the Red Cross in Key West.

During the past year, Potter chaired the “Castaway” fundraising event at the Bottlecap Lounge in Key West, which raised more than $3,000 for the American Red Cross in the Florida Keys. She also organized and led the outreach and distribution of fundraising canisters for Haiti earthquake relief. Potter has also utilized her artistic skills taking photos of students learning to swim with the help of Red Cross-certified instructors.

“Jennifer is our go-to person using her years of Key West knowledge to help us in every area,” Hunt said.

For more information on becoming a Red Cross volunteer in the Florida Keys, please click here or call 305-296-4033.