 |
|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 23, 2007, SEATTLE — The weather our area experienced recently presented Puget Sound Blood Center a serious challenge. The Blood Center had to meet the blood needs of patients throughout Western Washington at a time when many volunteer blood donors had a difficult time making it to a blood drive or donor center to donate this same blood. Fortunately, our area has an extremely dedicated base of donors. Their commitment to meeting the needs of area patients returned our area’s blood supply to nearly normal levels in a matter of a few days.
It is these dedicated volunteers and donors the Blood Center will honor at its annual awards luncheon, Partners in Life, held this Friday, January 26, 2007. Partners in Life celebrates the numerous ways that donors and volunteers support patients in our community, including those receiving care at Harborview Medical Center, Swedish Healthcare, Virginia Mason, Evergreen and more. The award ceremony and luncheon will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Westin Hotel, 1900 5th Avenue, Seattle.
Those receiving awards include:
- The City of Seattle – The city held ten blood drives in 2006, averaging 66 registrations. This group is extremely dedicated and the City puts exceptional effort into encouraging staff to donate during the workday. The group has 16 blood drives scheduled in 2007.
- Ronald Schulz of West Seattle – This dedicated volunteer donor is one reason patients in Western Washington can count on a ready blood supply. Ronald has donated whole blood 297 times, over 37-gallons.
- Gene Melang of the United States Coast Guard, Seattle – Gene is a blood drive coordinator at the United States Coast Guard, Integrated Support Command Seattle where 1,378 donors have been registered since May 1994. Besides inspiring his group to turn out in large numbers six times each year, Gene is also 16-gallon donor.
- Lon Davidson of Edmonds – Lon has enthusiastically supported the Blood Center’s work for four years, helping us achieve one of our most important strategic goals directed at community and business leaders: to increase awareness of the Blood Center’s mission and the value of its important research programs.
- Nathan Hale High School, Seattle – High school students represent a large percentage of our community’s donors. The Blood Center works closely with these teens through its High School Partnership Campaign to promote a lifestyle that includes blood donation. This year over 175 Western Washington high schools held over 290 blood drives registering over 18,600 donors during the academic year 2005-2006. Nathan Hale High School held four blood drives last year, registering 165 donors, more than a 62% increase over the year prior and the highest increase of all high schools.
- Encore Media Group of Seattle – Over the past four years Encore has provided the Blood Center an exceptional level of media support in advertising and event sponsorship, prominently presenting the Blood Center’s message.
- Kerry Chesbro – A tireless volunteer, Kerry is not only a regular volunteer at Blood Center drives and donor centers, but he is always ready when needed to fill in on short notice. Kerry not only helps to register donors and make them feel appreciated in the canteen after donating, he is also a 13 gallons donor.
Speakers at the Partners in Life event include Elaine Sonntag-Johnson of Seattle is able to lead a fairly normal life because of the blood transfusions she receives. A rare disorder destroys her red blood cells. Without the blood donations of hundreds of volunteer donors, Elaine would not be with us today.
Other speakers include: Richard B. Counts, M.D., Blood Center president and CEO; Maria Elena Geyer, Vice President, Donor Services Group and John V. Rindlaub, CEO, Pacific Northwest Region, Wells Fargo and Blood Center Community Campaign Council Chair.
If you have any questions regarding the event contact Tom Butterworth at 206-292-6511 or pager 206-680-2610.
###
|
|
|
