FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Celebrating Our Partners in Life

Olympia Area Donors and Volunteers Honored by Puget Sound Blood Center

OCTOBER 19, 2005, SEATTLE WA — It takes many people to save lives. Behind each pint of blood stand the many people it takes to produce it, test it and prepare it. Puget Sound Blood Center is fortunate to have a dedicated group of people – blood donors, blood drive coordinators, entire high schools and more – willing to take time and energy to make the gift of life available to countless people in our community who need blood transfusions. In recognition of the selfless contributions of time, organizational skills and the other talents of local residents, the Blood Center will host an awards luncheon in their honor October 21, 2005 in the Fir Ballroom of the Red Lion Hotel Olympia, 2300 Evergreen Way.

The event, Partners in Life, celebrates the numerous ways that donors and volunteers support patients in our community. From the donor giving blood, to the volunteers organizing blood drives and recruiting new donors, the benefits of their efforts are felt by patients throughout the Puget Sound area including those receiving care at Providence St Peter Hospital in Olympia.

The award ceremony and luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nearly three hundred blood donors, volunteers, donor group coordinators and others from Thurston, South Mason and Lewis counties. Speakers include Carol Dolliver, Laboratory Supervisor, Providence St Peter Hospital, Olympia and Shannon Wright who will share the story of her father, Gary Blair, who received blood after a traumatic injury suffered in a traffic accident. Blair received 112 units of blood within the first eight hours of his treatment. Maria Elena Geyer, Vice President Donor Services, Puget Sound Blood Center and Dave Leitch, Director, Donor and Volunteer Resources and Tori Fairhurst, the area’s Donor Resources Representative, will also give remarks.

Recipients of awards at the event include the Department of Ecology, Donor Group Coordinator Cathy English, volunteers Patt and John Clark (who have volunteered every Thursday afternoon since the Olympia Center opened in 1995) and donors Carol and Kimble Hartwell.

If you have any questions regarding the event contact Tom Butterworth at 206-292-6511 or pager 206-680-2610.

Celebrating over 60 years of innovation, 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. For more information on Puget Sound Blood Center please see our website at www.psbc.org.

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