News and Events

New Castle, DE - On Wednesday, February 27, students and staff from William Penn High School in New Castle attempted to break another record - by once again holding the largest one-day high school blood drive on the Delmarva Peninsula.

In the 2006-2007 school year, William Penn recruited 167 donors in one day- more than any of the other 63 high schools in the Blood Bank of Delmarva school blood drive program. They beat that number this year with 177 blood donors at the blood drive.

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"They have always been a role model school for the effort and enthusiasm they put into their blood drives," said Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva. "Throughout more than two decades of the high school blood drive program, William Penn has always been at the top or in the top two for the most student donors."

William Penn staff and students also submitted the most HERO cards in the 2006-2007 school year. HERO cards can be filled out after a blood donation at any Blood Bank of Delmarva donation site and credit is given to the school.

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. Last year, a total of 6,340 donations were collected at 107 school blood drives. 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.

PHOTOS FROM BLOOD DRIVE:

Michelle G. of Camden, DE spent many years of her life terrified of needles. But after a family tragedy, she overcame her fear and gave back to the very cause that helped prolong her sister's life- by becoming a regular blood donor. It was a cause that also helped her husband survive a serious accident nearly 25 years later.

PICTURED: Michelle with her husband Joe

"When I was in college, my 12-year-old sister Jennifer was diagnosed with a rare cancer. Though she eventually lost her struggle, she was able to enjoy many good days thanks to blood transfusions.

PICTURED: Michelle's sister Jennifer

During that time, just the sight of a needle made me cringe. But my nervousness about giving blood made me feel guilty for years. When I decided to give blood donation a try, it was a great experience. I am now a member of the "LifeSaver" Program and was thrilled to receive a certificate in the mail after donating my first gallon!

Although I always felt good about giving blood, I never thought that the impact of blood donations would hit so close to home for me... AGAIN. That day came on October 13, 2007 when my husband Joe was hit by an SUV while riding his motorcycle. He needed four units of blood to recover from his injuries. Even though Joe did not receive my blood, I love helping others the way another donor has helped him."

- Michelle G.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or visit www.delmarvablood.org.

FEATURED VIDEO: Ocean City Blood Drive Commercial

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Ocean City, MD- Across two chilly, blustery winter days this week, 640 generous people left the warmth of their homes and jobs in order to make a potentially enormous difference to the lives of people they likely did not even know. They made time to be blood donors at the 10th Annual Ocean City Beach Blanket Blood Drive on January 29 and 30, and their participation shattered the previous record for the number of registered donors (set in 2006 with 606 registered donors) by nearly 6%.

"The support from the community was incredible- and the impact is even more impressive," said Robbie Tarpley Raffish, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva. "When broken down into separate blood components, a single blood donation can save up to three lives. We were able to collect 577 units of blood; if you multiply that by three, more than 1,700 hospital patients could be impacted across Delmarva because of the generosity of these donors."

The Beach Blanket Blood Drive was established in 1999 to help secure the blood supply on Delmarva each winter, making up for missed appointments by regular donors who become ill with colds or flu, take winter vacations, or who cannot get to a donation appointment because of inclement weather.

The event is sponsored by the Town of Ocean City, which has donated the use of the Convention Center since the event's inception. The co-sponsor is the Coastal Association of REALTORS, which helps promote the event and provides dozens of volunteers for the information tables and canteen.

Several Ocean City businesses donated thousands of dollars worth of food and beverages to the canteen (post-blood donation area) and helped underwrite the cost of the free commemorative long-sleeve t-shirts that were provided to every registered donor. Live music from Clear Channel and Delmarva Broadcasting radio stations and entertainment by John LaMere, singer of local band Crowded Outhouse, and Carlos Mir, representative of the American Diabetes Association- and consummate juggler- were also highlights of this year's event.

"This event showcases how every aspect of the community comes together to support the Blood Bank, and we thank everyone involved for their generosity," said Suzanne Murray, Blood Bank of Delmarva Account Executive.

George Rosenstock of Berlin is a ten-year donor to the Beach Blanket Blood Drive. "I come every year because I know the blood is needed," said Rosenstock. "I feel good knowing my donation will go to help someone in need. They don't even have to ask me to come back next year, I'm there."

New to the Beach Blanket Blood Drive this year was the option for donors to have their blood screened for diabetes. Nearly 500 people took advantage of the opportunity and had their donation screened for the disease. Their results will be available online in a password-protected area of the BBD website within 72 hours of their donation.

Beach Blanket Blood Drive by the Numbers

The 2008 Beach Blanket Blood Drive:

- Registered 640 donors- 51 more than the 2007 drive, and the most recorded in the history of the event
- Collected 577 units of blood
- Screened nearly 500 donors for diabetes
- Enrolled 64 new Blood Bank members