Donna Dorsey trained nurses to become disaster volunteers while her husband, Neil, focused on community outreach programs.
Together, the Columbia couple dedicated more than 50 years collectively to the American Red Cross ? and stand as a model of how families with diverse skills can join forces at a single organization.
“They didn?t sit next to each other at meetings,” said Fred Rigger, board chairman of the Central Maryland chapter. “They applied their own skills.”
The Dorseys were the first recipients of the Dorsey Family Service Award, which was named in their honor. The award aims to encourage families to volunteer together, Rigger said.
Donna Dorsey started working with the Red Cross in 1975 and has taught more than 100 disaster health courses and trained more than 500 nurses.
She also has responded to disasters nationwide, including running the disaster health care service facility for three weeks in southern Florida after Hurricane Andrew ravaged the area in 1992.
“We would see about 1,000 people wrapped around the building waiting,” she said.
While Donna Dorsey was working at the chapter level, including as board chairwoman from 2004 to 2006, Neil Dorsey was working in community education. He gave countless presentations on disaster preparedness and worked on Howard County?s disaster action team.
Neil Dorsey, who is retired from the Howard County Sheriff?s Office, also volunteers for the American Cancer Society.
“We have different skills and interests,” he said.
The Dorseys are retiring and moving to North Carolina after 35 years in Columbia. With an award in their name, they hope more families will be recognized for their service.
“Most awards are individual,” Neil Dorsey said. “But this recognizes the teamwork.”
