2024 Jefferson Awards: Thaddeus Adams

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – If you’ve seen Thaddeus Adams over the past eight years, you’ve likely seen him in his signature red vest. For him, helping his community is a family affair.

“Service has been a part of our family since I was very young,” Adams said. “My parents have been humanitarians in one way or another.”

The devastation of Hurricane Harvey served as a catalyst for Adams to get involved with the American Red Cross.

“Our church was involved with the sheltering and when that happened, I had a chance to kind of just see what a sheltering situation would look like,” Adams said. “There was some training that was conducted by the Red Cross, and they came in, and I was very intrigued with that.”

Locally, Adams works as Disaster Spiritual Care, working with people going through some of the most difficult situations in their lives. Adams is also a Disaster Action Team Region Lead, responding to some of the worst disasters in our state and nation, including donating his time and effort to those impacted by the 2019 El Paso Walmart Shooting, the tragedy at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, and the Lahaina Wildfire in Maui.

“Somebody like Thad is so valuable to our organization,” Heart of Texas Chapter Executive Director Jennifer Young said. “Because when you think of an organization as large as the American Red Cross and just the reach and the touch that we have across so many different things that we do to have somebody like that who is so versatile and so willing to just put his hands around every piece of our mission is just incredible.”

On top of responding to disasters, Adams also helps train other American Red Cross volunteers throughout the entire state of Texas.

“My faith has a majority to do with that,” Adams said. “I’m compelled to do it not because I have to, but because I really want to. I have that desire to serve.”

Adams said a great support staff at home, his wife and four children, his parents, and his church allow him to continue to help others.

“I’m very thankful and blessed to have this environment around me that when I get back, people understand what I’ve gone through,” Adams said.

He is also quick to give credit to others for helping shape who he is.

“I’m a reflection of the great leadership that’s been before me, so that’s the greatest compliment I can give to them and they know who they are,” Adams said.

“He really embodies that sense of compassion, which is one of our values here at the American Red Cross,” Young added. “It shines through all that he does.”

Just like his parents instilled service in his life, Adams is instilling it in his own children’s lives.

“He’s the one who gets his children involved to go help teach other kids how they can safely get out of their home should it catch fire,” Young said.

From connecting with people going through their worst moments, to inspiring the next generation, you can count on Thaddeus Adams, and his red vest, to help.

Watch the 2024 Jefferson Awards on KBTX, Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m.