Red Cross chair honored

American Red Cross volunteer and leader Juan Tenorio Guerrero was recognized yesterday by the Legislature for his two decades of service with the organization.

The House of Representatives and the Senate adopted a joint resolution commending Guerrero for “his volunteer leadership and stewardship” of the American Red Cross-CNMI chapter, a group that has extended millions of dollars in relief assistance to disaster victims.

Guerrero, known to the local populace as “Juan Pan,” became a member of the Red Cross in 1983 and served in the local chapter’s board of directors in 1985.

From then on, he actively served in various volunteer capacities in the Red Cross, holding key positions as disaster fundraising officer and chairman of fundraising committees, among others. Guerrero has served the Red Cross board of directors, which he now leads as chairman.

“Under Juan Tenorio Guerrero’s early leadership, the chapter successfully developed a program to ensure adequate financial reserves that guarantee the continued viability of the chapter and its ability to respond to local disasters,” the resolution states.

“Guerrero played an integral role in the chapter’s acquisition and renovation of a former Japanese power plant to serve as the chapter’s central office, which it does to this day,” adds the resolution.

The Legislature recognized Guerrero’s participation in a major fundraising event organized by the Red Cross—his brainchild Club 200, which raised almost $2 million for the civic group.

It recognized Guerrero’s devotion of substantial personal time and resources in leading the Red Cross respond to devastating typhoons, including Kim, Lynn, Roy, Seth, Omar, Keith, Paka, Chata’an, and Pongsona.

This year, the Red Cross helped victims of Typhoon Tingting and Supertyphoon Chaba by providing food and relief assistance. The Red Cross has taken on the goal of raising $1.5 million as relief assistance for Chaba victims.

Guerrero has received numerous recognitions from the Red Cross’ national chapter. He was previously named the National Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year and the Mountain Pacific Region Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year, and was bestowed the Mountain Pacific Region Outstanding Disaster Fundraiser Volunteer Award.