News & Events | Governor Locke Receives Award From National Marrow Donor Program

Locke's Executive Order underscores the state's commitment to encouraging more people to become donors

NOVEMBER 22, 2002, OLYMPIA, WA — The Puget Sound Blood Center joined the National Marrow Donor Program today to recognize Governor Gary Locke's ongoing support for donor education and recruitment programs. Governor Locke was presented with the 2002 C.W. Bill Young Congressional Award, which recognizes government officials who support the National Marrow Donor Program's (NMDP) mission to recruit and retain blood and marrow donors. In May 2000, the governor signed Executive Order # 02-01, which allows state employees to take paid leave to donate blood and bone marrow.

Governor Locke was nominated for the award by Seattle police officer and bone marrow donor, Randy Yamanaka. The nomination was sponsored by the Puget Sound Blood Center, the local registration center for the NMDP. The Blood Center recruits people to join the Registry and coordinates donor marrow and stem cell collections for patients requiring transplants. In 2002, the Blood Center has successfully recruited 4,056 potential donors and facilitated marrow collections from 49 local donors.

After the ceremony, Blood Center officials praised the governor's long-standing efforts to make blood, marrow and organ donation a high priority on the public agenda.

"Governor Locke's dedicated effort and support have been instrumental in helping to increase public awareness about the sustained need for blood, marrow and tissue donors," said Dr. Richard Counts, president of the Puget Sound Blood Center. "Such efforts as our Rare Donor Program, designed to recruit and retain donors among ethnic minorities, have especially benefited from the governor's support. As one of the most accomplished marrow donor registration centers affiliated with the National Marrow Donor Program, the Blood Center believes that Governor Locke's efforts ensure our continued success in reaching out to our community."

The Puget Sound Blood Center will also recognize the governor, who, on behalf of Washington State employees who have donated blood, will receive the 2003 Partners in Life Community Service Award, during a luncheon ceremony on January 16, 2003.

About The Puget Sound Blood Center
The nonprofit Puget Sound Blood Center is the resource for patients in western Washington who need blood, tissue and specialized laboratory services. Founded in 1944, the Blood Center has a long and unique tradition of blending community volunteerism, medical science and research to improve patients' lives. The Blood Center, which serves patients in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties with blood services, provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest.