News & Events | Local High School Shatters Record for Blood Donations

MAY 25, 2004, SEATTLE — A local high school’s motivation, passion for community service -- and a bit of a competitive streak -- helped break a single-day blood donation record, Puget Sound Blood Center announced today. On May 19, Auburn High School, located in Auburn, Wash., recorded 461 total registered blood donors at a mobile drive conducted by the Blood Center. In the 60 years it has provided blood to the community, the Blood Center reported that this was the largest number of donations ever made in one day by an organization.

Because the Blood Center separates each unit of blood collected into three life-saving components, the Auburn High School drive has the potential to save nearly 1,400 lives in the community.

High schools in the Western Washington region provide approximately 17 percent of the community blood supply and help the Blood Center maintain one of the nation’s most stable blood supplies.

“We are fortunate to have Auburn High School as a partner,” said Mike Strong, Ph.D., executive vice president at the Blood Center. “Without the commitment and involvement of the entire school, this record-breaking achievement could not have been possible. We applaud Auburn High in particular and all of our high school partners in general, for their continued service to the community blood supply.”

Of the 461 donors registered at this drive, 205 of them donated for the first time. The high school has registered more than 300 donors at each of its two annual drives, a feat made possible through the efforts of the school’s Service Learning Program.

The Service Learning Program, taught by faculty member Heidi Bendt, provides volunteer leadership opportunities for juniors and seniors in a classroom setting. Students apply the skills they’ve learned in school toward community service. They are required to provide 50 hours per semester.

The program’s long-standing success in recruiting donors, securing community involvement and aggressively promoting blood drives takes on a deeper meaning because of Mrs. Bendt’s personal connection to donation.

“Not only have members of my own family needed life-saving blood transfusions, but some of our students’ families have as well,” said Mrs. Bendt. “We know that people in our community depend upon life-saving blood transfusions every day, so Auburn High School has developed a proud tradition of doing our part to save lives. I want to thank everyone who made this drive possible.”

About Puget Sound Blood Center
Celebrating 60 years in the community, the Blood Center is internationally recognized for groundbreaking research in transfusion and transplantation medicine. The nonprofit 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 organization directly affects the lives of over half million patients annually in more than 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 counties of Washington State and provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest.