LOCAL STUDENTS ATTEMPT "LARGEST ONE-DAY HIGH SCHOOL BLOOD DRIVE ON DELMARVA" FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW
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
