NORTH COAST, Calif. – More than 350 local business leaders and guests attended the American Red Cross of the California Northwest’s 12th annual Real Heroes Breakfast held at the Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park on April 30.

Contributions for the 2015 Heroes Breakfast totaled more than $172,000 to benefit the American Red Cross.

“We are very thankful to have such a strong support system from our partner sponsors and the community for the Heroes Breakfast each year to ensure the Red Cross can help our six counties prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies of all kinds,” said Jeff Baumgartner, CEO for the California Northwest Chapter.

The invitation-only event allows the Red Cross to recognize local heroes while raising money to support programs and emergency services the Red Cross provides to support the communities of the six counties within the California Northwest Chapter whether it's responding to a disaster, collecting lifesaving blood, teaching skills that can save a life, or assisting military members and their families.

During this event, 12 remarkable and brave individuals who have all selflessly performed lifesaving acts or served their community in an extraordinary way were honored.

Award categories included the law enforcement hero, medical hero, military hero, rescue professional heroes, education heroes, animal hero, environment hero, heroic deed hero, humanitarian – adult hero and humanitarian – youth hero.

The event sponsors include American AgCredit, CamelBak, Kaiser Permanente, Jackson Family Wines, PG&E Corp., St. Joseph Health, Sutter Health, Merrill Lynch, Eileen Adams, Redwood Credit Union, Silver Oak Cellars, Sonoma Raceway and Keysight Technologies.

The 12th annual Real Heroes Breakfast’s honorary chair was Sally McCoy, chief executive officer of Petaluma based CamelBak. The breakfast was emceed by Debbie Abrams, a radio personality at KZST 100.1.

With office locations in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma counties, the American Red Cross is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization that depends on the generous contributions of time and money from residents and companies to provide services and programs that help our community to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

For more information on disaster preparedness, health and safety classes, volunteer opportunities, and financial contributions, visit www.redcross.org/santa-rosa , call 1-707-577-7600 or find them on Facebook and Twitter.