Students Honored for Breaking Blood Donation Records
Growing School Blood Drive Program is crucial to ensuring future blood supply
Newark, DE - Blood Bank of Delmarva held awards luncheons in October to recognize 64 high schools across the Peninsula for their lifesaving contributions to the 2006-2007 School Blood Drive Program.
A total of 6,340 donations were collected at 107 school blood drives from September 2006 to May 2007 - up 16% from 5,466 donations the previous school year.
The luncheons also served as the official kick-off to the 2007-2008 School Blood Drive Program, which has been dedicated to 14-year-old Andrew McDonough. Although McDonough, a freshman at Salesianum High School, lost his 6-month battle with leukemia in July, he was able to prolong his life with frequent blood transfusions.
The following schools took top honors for the largest number of blood donors:
New Castle County:
Extra-large school - William Penn High School- 224 donors
Large school - Charter School of Wilmington- 122 donors
Mid-size school - Salesianum School- 79 donors
Small school - St. Elizabeth High School- 71 donors
Kent County:
1st place – Lake Forest High School- 194 donors- largest on the Delmarva Peninsula!
2nd place – Smyrna High School- 135 donors
3rd place – Milford High School- 99 donors
Sussex County:
1st place -- Sussex Technical High School- 128 donors
2nd place – Seaford High School- 88 donors
3rd place – Indian River High School- 71 donors
Cecil County:
Rising Sun High School- 136 donors
Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland:
1st place- Pocomoke High School- 135 donors
2nd place- Wicomico High School- 94 donors
3rd place- Crisfield High School- 79 donors
The School Blood Drive Program provides 8% of the blood supply on Delmarva. The program started in 1984 with just 140 donations at two schools. Today the program is critical for attracting younger donors to become lifelong blood donors. Currently less than seven percent of all Blood Bank members are under the age of 35. By giving first time donors a good experience, the Blood Bank hopes to reverse this trend on Delmarva.
A total of 6,340 donations were collected at 107 school blood drives from September 2006 to May 2007 - up 16% from 5,466 donations the previous school year.
The luncheons also served as the official kick-off to the 2007-2008 School Blood Drive Program, which has been dedicated to 14-year-old Andrew McDonough. Although McDonough, a freshman at Salesianum High School, lost his 6-month battle with leukemia in July, he was able to prolong his life with frequent blood transfusions.
The following schools took top honors for the largest number of blood donors:
New Castle County:
Extra-large school - William Penn High School- 224 donors
Large school - Charter School of Wilmington- 122 donors
Mid-size school - Salesianum School- 79 donors
Small school - St. Elizabeth High School- 71 donors
Kent County:
1st place – Lake Forest High School- 194 donors- largest on the Delmarva Peninsula!
2nd place – Smyrna High School- 135 donors
3rd place – Milford High School- 99 donors
Sussex County:
1st place -- Sussex Technical High School- 128 donors
2nd place – Seaford High School- 88 donors
3rd place – Indian River High School- 71 donors
Cecil County:
Rising Sun High School- 136 donors
Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland:
1st place- Pocomoke High School- 135 donors
2nd place- Wicomico High School- 94 donors
3rd place- Crisfield High School- 79 donors
The School Blood Drive Program provides 8% of the blood supply on Delmarva. The program started in 1984 with just 140 donations at two schools. Today the program is critical for attracting younger donors to become lifelong blood donors. Currently less than seven percent of all Blood Bank members are under the age of 35. By giving first time donors a good experience, the Blood Bank hopes to reverse this trend on Delmarva.
