MONROE, Mich. (July 25, 2011)–
On June 15, a normal day of La-Z-Boy furniture deliveries quickly turned frightening for delivery driver Hugo Peña of Garden Grove, Calif., when he saw that a customer’s neighbor had collapsed on a porch in Chula Vista. The man, Ed Ross, was unconscious, alone in his front yard and suffering from heart failure.
Peña wasted no time checking on Ross, alerting his family and calling 911. He then stayed with Ross until the paramedics arrived. Thanks to Peña’s quick thinking, Ross is now at home making a full recovery.
To honor Peña’s exceptional customer service, La-Z-Boy presented him with the national “Helping Hand” award – and a recliner of his choice – on July 22 at an event at the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store at 1640 Camino de la Reina in San Diego. Ross, who also attended the event, was offered a La-Z-Boy chair as a “get well” gift at the ceremony.
“Since he began making deliveries for us a little over a year ago, Hugo has consistently impressed us with his hard work ethic and exceptional customer service,” said Elaine Marlow, store manager of the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries of San Diego. “In fact, after paramedics took Ed away in an ambulance, Hugo returned to work and completed 17 additional deliveries that day.”
Also present at the event were Deputy Fire Chief Rick Brand of the Chula Vista Fire Department, who spoke about the importance of citizen first responders, and John Liken, chairperson of the Chula Vista Safety Commission, thanked Peña on behalf of the community. Members of the San Diego Fire Department were also in attendance.