News & Events | Blood Center Honors Two Eastsiders

JUNE 21, 2001, SEATTLE — A respected Medina physician and a dynamic Bellevue business leader have been selected as this year’s winners of Puget Sound Blood Center’s most prestigious awards.

Dr. Daniel H. Coleman and Kemper F. Freeman, Jr., were recognized at the Blood Center’s annual Benefactors’ Dinner tonight at the Rainier Club in Seattle.

The Blood Center Board of Trustees chose Dr. Coleman as recipient of the Dr. J. Richard Czajkowski Service Award for exemplifying the ideals of loyalty, dedication and service embodied by the award’s namesake and first director of the Blood Center. Dr. Coleman, now retired, had a private practice in internal medicine and hematology for 36 years.

During those years, Dr. Coleman served the community as president of the King County Medical Society, president of the Northwest Pacific Society Internal Medicine, Blood Center medical executive, and from 1979 to 1987, he was president of the Blood Center Board of Trustees. Under his leadership, the Blood Center experienced significant growth, notably with the construction of the present building at Terry and Madison, the enlargement of the Eastside branch and the establishment of the North Seattle branch. After his tenure as president, Dr. Coleman continued to serve on the board until 1991, as he did earlier, from 1957 to 1969.

“During a time of great transition, Dr. Coleman was a driving force in shaping Puget Sound Blood Center into the leading regional blood and research program of its kind,” said Blood Center President Richard Counts, who presented the award.

Freeman received the evening’s next tribute: the Dr. S. Maimon Samuels Founders’ Award for Extraordinary Leadership. Established “to remember and honor the work of those who have made significant contributions to the mission of the Puget Sound Blood Center,” the award is named for a founding member who donated the Terry and Madison property where the Blood Center stands.

Through vision, energy and resources, Freeman helped to make the Blood Center’s 2001 fundraiser, Faces for Life, a spectacular month-long event at Bellevue Square, which he owns and has developed into a premier shopping destination. The mall was transformed into a gallery and the merchants made Faces their major sponsorship beneficiary of the year. Freeman’s involvement helped the event raise nearly $360,000.

“Supporting and nurturing the community in which we live and do business has always been the Freeman family philosophy," he said. “Faces for Life is just one way to help meet the need of the community and enhance the quality of life on the eastside and the region.”