Summer Blood Challenge Breaks Records
Ninety-five employers on Delmarva helped save lives this summer by participating in the 5th annual Summer Blood Challenge - a competition from May 21 and September 1 to recruit the most blood donors and Blood Bank of Delmarva members. Together, thousands of employees contributed a total of 5,308 blood donations, a 9% increase over the 2006 Challenge.
With the theme "The Blood Supply Doesn't Take A Summer Vacation," the Challenge was designed to raise awareness of the importance of blood donations, especially during the summer months when fewer people typically give blood.
"It is really exciting for us to recognize all the people in this area who took time out of their busy summer to donate blood," said Carrie Aiken, Blood Bank of Delmarva spokesperson. "They set a great example for the community and helped ensure there was blood on the shelves this season for those who needed it."
Christiana Care Health System was named the "Top Lifesaving Employer" for the fourth year in a row, bringing in 550 blood donations and 223 new Blood Bank members.
Other winners in each size category (based on the number of employees):
Office of U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper
ComputerTraining.com
Artesian Water
Rohm & Haas Electronic Materials
Intervet, Inc.
ING DIRECT
Wendy Felts, Christiana Care Health System
Carolyn Rolling, Bank of America
Both Felts and Rolling donated 14 units of platelets this summer, a component of blood critically needed to treat people with leukemia and cancer.
