News and Events

Newark, DE - Howard L. Keener, Jr. has been named Director of Marketing for Blood Bank of Delmarva. Keener will be responsible for the recruitment and retention of new Blood Bank members and donors, including working with area employers to sponsor the group membership plan.

Howard will continue his responsibilities as the chief conduit between the Blood Bank and the Executive and Regional Boards to identify new markets, perform demographic research and work with community leaders in promoting the Blood Bank. He will oversee the Blood Bank's marketing team which includes the marketing manager and five account executives.

Howard has significant marketing and management experience in a variety of endeavors. He was a former principal with Shipley Associates, a marketing communications firm in Wilmington, and a vice president and general manager at Brandywine Flowers.

Keener is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Widener University and the University of Delaware where he earned his MBA with a marketing concentration.

Keener resides with his wife and two children in Wilmington, Delaware.

Students and Blood Bank staff prepared to recruit and process 265 donors

New Castle, DE - On Thursday, February 26, students and staff from William Penn High School in New Castle hope to break another record - by once again holding the largest one-day high school blood drive on the Delmarva Peninsula.

In the 2007-2008 school year, William Penn had 177 blood donors in one day - more than any of the other 67 high schools in Blood Bank of Delmarva's School Blood Drive Program.

"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," said Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva. "Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious."

William Penn staff and students also submitted the most HERO cards in the 2007-2008 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.

Thanks to schools across the Peninsula, a total of 6,684 donations were collected at 115 school blood drives from September 2007 to May 2008 - up more than 5% from the previous school year. By providing a positive, first-time experience giving blood, the Blood Bank hopes to establish a relationship with young donors that will last a lifetime. Currently less than 7% of all Blood Bank members are under the age of 35.

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.

BLOOD DRIVE FACTS:

WHEN:
Thursday, February 26
7:30am - 3pm
(Media interviews from 10am - 11:30am)

WHERE:
William Penn High School (Gymnasium)
713 East Basin Road
New Castle, DE 19720

Blood Bank staff, donors, and supporters officially broke ground for the new Christiana Donor Center in December. Over the next two years, the building will double in size, addressing many space issues and allowing room
for expanded laboratory and administrative areas and enhanced technologies in processing and testing. As the demand for blood from area hospitals continues to rise, the new donor center will help the Blood Bank accommodate the number of blood donors necessary to meet those needs well into the future.

Plus, a Grand-Opening of the new Wilmington Donor Center, the University of Delaware's CAA Blood Challenge, plans for the 2009 Summer Blood Challenge, and much more.

View the complete newsletter.

WHAT:
U.S. Senator Tom Carper is teaming up with 22 Wilmington police recruits to give blood at the new downtown donor center in Wilmington. With just a week until the recruits graduate from the police academy, Senator Carper is proud of their efforts in already giving back.

"Once these recruits hit the streets, they'll be faced with countless situations where people in the community need help to survive," said Senator Carper. "Giving blood is one of the easiest ways to save lives and make a difference, and it's important for our officers to set a good example."

WHEN:
Friday, February 13
Police recruits donate from 7:45am - 12:30pm
Senator Tom Carper donates at 9:45am

WHERE:
Blood Bank of Delmarva
913 North Market Street (First Floor)
Wilmington, DE