News & Events | Asian American Community Encouraged to Donate Blood, Register on National Marrow Donor Registry

Asian American Community Encouraged to Donate Blood, Register on National Marrow Donor Registry

Twice-annual blood drive inspired by the late Kirby Wong, Seattle man of Chinese descent and recipient of more than 500 units of blood

JUNE 23, 2003, SEATTLE — Members of the Asian Pacific Islander community are urged by Kin On Health Care Center and Puget Sound Blood Center, the local affiliate of the National Marrow Donor Program, to participate in the upcoming Kirby Wong Memorial Blood and Marrow Drive. Held twice a year, the event’s goal is to increase the numbers of Chinese and other Asian Pacific Islanders represented on the national registry and in the local blood supply. The drive will take place on Saturday, July 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church at 3001 24th Ave. S. in Seattle. For more information or to schedule an appointment, interested donors should contact Kin On Health Care Center at (206) 721-3630.

The drive commemorates a Seattle man of Chinese-American descent, Kirby Wong, who died at the age of 44. During Kirby’s heart surgery, his father learned that few people of Chinese descent donate to the community blood supply. Kirby’s story stands as a reminder that with more ethnic diversity in the blood supply or on the National Marrow Donor Program, others in the community may have the very best opportunity for closely matched transfusions or a marrow match. Wong, who died in May 2000, left behind $100,000 for the Kin On Health Care Center in Seattle to host two drives a year for the next five years in the Asian Pacific Islander community. The drive is in its third year.

“The Blood Center and the sponsors of this blood and marrow drive recognize that each member of our diverse community is entitled to lifesaving blood or bone marrow,” said Steve McLean, a spokesperson for Puget Sound Blood Center. “Though we encourage people of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds to donate blood and get on the national registry, people of Asian heritage are especially encouraged to do so on July 19. Whether locally or nationally, lives truly depend upon the generous donations by each community.”

Asian Americans only make up six percent of the 5 million registrants on the National Marrow Donor Program, a national database of bone marrow donors. Approximately 3.5 percent of the total blood supply is comprised of all minority groups. To address this deficiency, Puget Sound Blood Center provides its resources and marketing effort to help diversify the donor base through its Rare Donor Program. Established in 2000 to focus on the recruitment and retention of ethnic minority donors, the Rare Donor Program was created because of people like Kirby Wong. As the local affiliate of the National Marrow Donor Program, the Blood Center strongly encourages donors to schedule an appointment by calling the number above.

About The Puget Sound Blood Center
Internationally recognized for groundbreaking research in transfusion and transplantation medicine, 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 provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest and provides blood services to patients in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties in Western Washington.