BLOOMINGTON -- Kirbie's Cause filled the hearts of 400 people at the DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center Thursday morning.

Kirbie Brittain of Towanda was 15 when she died on Sept. 1, 2008, of a virus that attacked her heart a year after a heart transplant.

Since then, her friend Sarah Ready, 16, of Bloomington, and Kirbie's other friends from Normal Community High School have collected about $13,000 from fundraisers to help the Brittain family pay medical bills and to honor Kirbie's memory.

Ready was presented the Youth Award, sponsored by State Farm Insurance Cos., during the American Red Cross of the Heartland's fifth annual Saluting Our Heroes event.

"She was positive, vibrant and had a great love of life," said Rodney Brittain of his daughter.

"I know she's here right now, having fun," Sarah said. "I know she's really proud of us."

Kirbie's mother, Joni Brittain, nodded to Sarah and four NCHS classmates and said, "These girls are not the same girls they were a year ago. They are about 10 to 15 years older. They have learned that life is about love and what you do for others."

Lyn Hruska, Red Cross executive director, said Sarah and the other honorees represent people who do "incredible, unselfish acts."

Also honored were:

• Skye Schumaker, 7, of Heyworth, the Good Samaritan Award sponsored by CEFCU, for raising more than $800 for Red Cross efforts to help flooding victims in August 2008. She allowed people -- for $1 -- to dip their hand in neon paint and place their handprint on her lamb, Buddy, at the Illinois State Fair.

• O'Neil Pool-Bloomington lifeguards, the Health & Safety Award, for saving the life of pool manager Bob Loy by recognizing his stroke symptoms on July 15, 2008, and calling 911.

• 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the Armed Forces Award sponsored by Country Financial, honoring area Illinois Army National Guard members who recently returned from Afghanistan.

• Illinois Search Dogs, the Ambassador Award sponsored by Verizon, for training and deploying handlers and dogs to respond to emergencies.

• Gene Rudow, 84, of Bloomington, the Volunteer Award, for giving more than 10,000 hours at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center since 1989.

• Jim and Donita Hargitt of Fairbury, the Public Service Award, for coordinating the Southeast Livingston County Ambulance Service.

• Karen Zangerle, executive director of PATH (Providing Access To Help), the WJBC Don Munson Spirit of McLean County Award.