This year marks the 13th “Giving Together” program hosted by Lifeblood and Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett. Through this program, Arlington, Bartlett and Bolton high schools are working together to collect blood donations from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31.
The schools will strive to collect as many blood donations as possible during that time frame, using a combination of individual donors at centers and blood drives at the schools.
Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett has pledged up to $6,000 in grant funds to be equally divided among the three schools if their joint efforts collect 300 or more units of blood during Oct. 19-31.
The money received is to be applied toward each school’s mathematics and/or science programs.
To help gather these donations, each school will be holding its own blood drive during a two-week period:
- Arlington High School: Oct. 20
- Bartlett High School: Oct. 23
- Bolton High School: Oct. 30
“It’s exciting to see students come together and take responsibility to ensure their community has a safe and reliable blood supply,” said Jennifer Balink, Lifeblood’s vice president for donor relations. “It’s moving to see donors make the commitment to donate at a young age and continue to do so after they graduate.”
In 2014, the schools donated nearly 500 units of blood, helping 1,500 patients in area hospitals.
“Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is proud to sponsor the Giving Together program,” said Chris Locke, Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett chief executive officer. “It’s truly a ‘win’ for everyone involved. The blood donated by the students is essential for hospitals in the area. In turn, we look forward to the schools meeting their goal so we can contribute to the improvement of their math and science programs.”
Family members, friends and donors can also designate their donations to a school when they donate at any Life-blood donor center across the Mid-South during Oct. 19-31. For locations, visit lifeblood.org or call (901) 529-6320.
Lifeblood is the Memphis region’s only non-profit volunteer blood center, supplying more than 100,000 units for local patients each year.
On Oct. 1, 2015 Lifeblood will join Blood Systems, one of the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit transfusion medicine organizations. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit lifeblood.org or call 1-888-LIFEBLOOD.
