News and Events

Wilmington, DE - Eileen Dalton of Wilmington is a mother and cancer survivor. Her new foundation, "Give Blood for your Mother," is partnering with Blood Bank of Delmarva to encourage people to give blood in honor of their mom this Mother's Day. All blood donors who come in to donate at a Blood Bank of Delmarva site through Mother's Day will get a nice card to give their mom sharing their good deed (view card).

"My three sons asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day last year, and I told them to skip the potted plant and give blood instead," said Dalton. "They did and I was really touched, not only because I've given blood over the years, but because blood donors helped save my life."

PICTURED: Eileen's three sons

PICTURED: Eileen (front right) with her husband, three sons, and daughter-in-law.

Dalton was diagnosed with cancer years ago and needed blood transfusions after surgery. Every year, more than 20,000 patients on the Delmarva Peninsula need blood transfusions to survive, as Dalton did. It takes more than 350 local blood donors a day to ensure that blood is available.

"Mothers give life to their children, and I can't think of a better way to honor them than by donating blood and giving someone else a second chance at life," said Dalton.

To make an appointment to give blood, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click here.

Listen to 60 second commercial with Eileen Dalton and Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva!

* Interview opportunity: Please call Carrie Aiken at 302-737-8405 ext. 778 or 302-584-0388 to arrange an interview with Eileen Dalton.

Recognition ceremony to honor St. Mark's for hosting region's first high school blood drive in 1985

Newark, DE - Throughout the past 25 years of Blood Bank of Delmarva's High School Blood Drive Program, the numbers are staggering: there have been 75,282 blood donations made at local high schools. Up to 225,846 lives have been saved, since a blood donation can be used for as many as three patients. And more than 5,500 blood donations are expected to be made at Delmarva high schools this school year.

The high school tradition of saving lives got its start at St. Mark's High School in the spring of 1985. St. Mark's hosted the region's first high school blood drive and had 73 blood donors.

A quarter-century later, St. Mark's continues to be one of the biggest supporters of the program. Their blood drive scheduled for Thursday, April 15 from 8am to 2pm will officially mark the 25th anniversary of the High School Blood Drive Program.

Barbara Niedbalski, former St. Mark's school advisor, and two of the student leaders who helped coordinate the first high school blood drive in 1985 will join Blood Bank staff, current St. Mark's staff and student donors for a recognition ceremony at the April 15 drive at St. Mark's from 11am to 12pm to celebrate and share stories.

"Until the debut of the High School Program, blood drives had typically been looked upon as an activity for adults to host," said Niedbalski. "In 1985 though, it was the students who stepped up to the plate, and they proved they could do it. Parents seemed to be in awe of the fact that their children were able to do this. They were so proud."

Robert Travis, President and CEO of Blood Bank of Delmarva, credits the program's success today on those who supported it in the early years. "It is because of them that high school students have come to know what it means to be someone's hero by giving blood," said Travis.

The High School Blood Drive Program has grown significantly since its inception. Last year, there were 67 high schools that held blood drives. Thousands of students signed up to give blood.

"The importance and impact of the School Blood Drive Program in our area is tremendous. Blood collected at local high schools and colleges accounts for 8% of the total supply each year on Delmarva," said Carrie Aiken, Blood Bank spokesperson. "Many of the student donors are giving blood for the first time, and it is a great opportunity for us to give them an excellent first-time donation experience and hopefully inspire them to be blood donors for life."

JUST THE FACTS:

WHAT: St. Mark's High School blood drive - Officially marks the 25th Anniversary of the High School Blood Drive Program

WHEN: Thursday, April 15 - Blood drive is from 8am to 2pm - Recognition Ceremony is from 11am to 12pm

WHERE: St. Mark's High School (2501 Pike Creek Road, Wilmington, DE 19808) - Blood drive and recognition ceremony are being held in the gymnasium

WHO: Barbara Niedbalski, former St. Mark's school advisor, and a couple of her students who helped coordinate the first high school blood drive will join Blood Bank staff, current St. Mark's staff and student donors to celebrate and share stories.

Need the perfect Mother's Day gift? To honor your mom, give blood and save a life!

Eileen Dalton of Wilmington is a mother and cancer survivor. Her new foundation, "Give Blood for your Mother," is partnering with Blood Bank of Delmarva to encourage people to give blood in honor of their mom this Mother's Day. All blood donors who come in to donate for their mom at a Blood Bank of Delmarva site through Mother's Day will get a nice card to give her sharing their good deed.

Click on the card to enlarge the image

"My three sons asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day last year, and I told them to skip the potted plant, give blood instead," said Dalton. "They did and I was really touched, not only because I've given blood over the years, but because blood donors helped save my life."

Dalton was diagnosed with cancer years ago and needed blood transfusions after surgery. More than 20,000 patients on the Delmarva Peninsula need blood transfusions every year to survive, as Dalton did. It takes more than 350 local blood donors a day to ensure that blood is available.

"Mothers give life to their children, and I can't think of a better way to honor them than by donating blood and giving someone else a second chance at life," said Dalton.

To make an appointment to give blood, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE.

SALISBURY, MD - It's no secret that blood donors love the canteen cookies. And the cookie selection in Salisbury is about to get a little sweeter.

The Girl Scout Service Unit 97 from the Girl Scouts Chesapeake Bay Council will be delivering 600 boxes of cookies to the Blood Bank's Salisbury Donor Center (1309 Mt. Hermon Road) on Tuesday, April 13 at 4:30pm.

Blood Bank of Delmarva was chosen as a recipient of this cookie donation through an annual campaign called "Operation Taste of Home." The campaign allows the public to buy Girl Scout cookies that will be sent to military troops around the world and to local organizations on Delmarva.

"Our program became so successful that the USO was becoming inundated with cookies," said Denise Eberspeaker of the Wicomico County unit of the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. "Since there is also such a need at the local level, especially with the way the economy is now, we send cookies to organizations that save lives on Delmarva as well."

The cookies will be served to donors in the Salisbury Center canteen after their blood donation and at mobile locations in the area.

Event is at least twice the size of every other high school blood drive in the program

New Castle, DE - On Tuesday, April 6, students and staff from William Penn High School in New Castle hope to break yet another record - by holding the largest one-day high school blood drive on the Delmarva Peninsula for the fourth year in a row. This blood drive was originally scheduled for February 25 but was postponed due to a major snow storm.

In the 2008-2009 school year, William Penn had 201 blood donors in one day - more than any of the other 67 high schools in Blood Bank of Delmarva's School Blood Drive Program.

"As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our School Blood Drive Program, we need to recognize and thank William Penn for their level of support - even from the beginning," said Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva. "They have always been at the top or in the top two for the most student donors and, as a result, thousands of patients have benefitted."

William Penn staff and students also submitted the most HERO cards in the 2008-2009 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 6,909 donations were collected at 119 school blood drives from September 2008 to May 2009 - up more than 3.5% 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: Tuesday, April 6 - 7:30am - 3pm (Media interviews from 11am - 12pm)

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