Dave Nelson, from Eau Claire, WI, was awarded the 2024
Presidential Award of Excellence in the category of Humanitarian Services during celebrations
held at American Red Cross-national headquarters in Washington, D.C. on April 10 and 11,
2024.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Red Cross President’s Award for the humanitarian
services for the Red Cross and for all the clients we serve, said Nelson. “I do this work as I
believe our communities need our involvement, so I choose to be involved to bring relief to
those in need after disaster strikes.”
The Presidential Award for Excellence is presented to an individual or group of Red Cross
employees or volunteers who demonstrate exceptional performance or service in support of the
Red Cross multi-faceted mission. The nominee’s actions must go beyond meeting
organizational goals and expectations and be exemplary of the highest level of commitment
toward the successful delivery of the Red Cross mission.
“Being selected as a national Presidential Award of Excellence recipient is an outstanding
achievement, and it is important we take time to recognize the enormous impact Dave Nelson
makes as a volunteer,” said Mary Jane Thomsen, Executive Director for the Red Cross of
Wisconsin Northwest Chapter. “Last year, Dave spent six months overseas supporting our
armed forces at military bases throughout Europe. This exceeds the expectations of any Red
Crosser, and Dave did it without hesitation and was, as we say at Red Cross, ‘All-In’ as he
performed his duties as a Service Armed Forces leadership team member.”
Nelson was recognized with the Presidential Award of Excellence for going above and beyond
in his service to the Red Cross in 2022. When the conflict in Ukraine occurred, the need for
Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) team members had increased significantly and a number of
volunteers were asked to consider serving in this manner. Nelson was identified and recruited to
serve overseas for our SAF team as a Regional Program Specialist/Site Lead in Bulgaria.
Taking on this role meant moving from a volunteer averaging 50+ plus hours of service per
month (when not deployed) to a 24/7 employee with significant leadership responsibilities
overseas.
While at his planned post in Bulgaria, Nelson worked
tirelessly to ensure important communications from home
were vetted and shared. He also served on the Hero
Care Network and provided morale, entertainment and
connection to our nation’s military serving in Eastern
Europe and the Middle East.
Nelson began his Red Cross volunteer service in 2012. Throughout his time with the Red Cross,
Nelson has been “all in” with his volunteer activities and has served in many local, regional and
national leadership roles.
In his Red Cross work, Nelson is frequently the first person to raise his hand and respond to a
local disaster and when needed, he serves as the public affairs leader on scene. Nelson is a
Government Operations Manager and supports the 5 Chapter, 76 county Wisconsin Region as
the Emergency Management Regional Volunteer Lead, making a real difference in building
partnerships with Emergency Management personnel and representing Red Cross in an
exemplary manner.
As the face of the Red Cross for these partnerships, Nelson stood out as an expert in mass care
and sheltering during the COVID-19 pandemic, using his experience to plan isolation sheltering
with the State of Wisconsin. He also served as the Assistant Director of External Relations
working with FEMA and Homeland Security to ensure public safety.
Since his service began, Nelson has deployed to 15 regional and national disaster relief
operations and often serves in a leadership role. Nelson deployed to Hurricanes Harvey,
Florence and Ida and wildfire responses in California and Hawaii.
Nelson is a board leader and has served on the Board of Directors for the Northwest Wisconsin
Region since 2014.
Throughout his time with the Red Cross, Nelson was awarded the Northwest Chapter Hero of a
Lifetime Award (2022), Military Hero (2024) as well as a national Presidential Lifetime
Achievement Award awarded by President Joe Biden (2023).
The Red Cross of Wisconsin is honored to have Dave Nelson in our ranks. He is a true
reflection of the Red Cross mission – with his sole focus to help others – here at home and
around the world.