News and Events

Beach Blanket Blood Drive 2011 - February 8 & 9

Blood Bank President & CEO Robert L. Travis Retirement Dinner - January 13, 2011

SEE NEWS JOURNAL VIDEO AND COVERAGE OF THE BLOOD DRIVE!

New Castle, DE - On Thursday, February 24, students and staff from William Penn High School hope to continue their record-breaking streak by holding the largest one-day high school blood drive on Delmarva for the fifth year in a row.

There are 67 high schools in Blood Bank of Delmarva's School Blood Drive Program. Last year, there were 180 donors drawn at William Penn's blood drive.

"There are many factors that contribute to William Penn's success in the program, not the least of which is the energy, enthusiasm and dedication of William Penn's long-time employee, Mary Beth Kessler," said Kelly Sakiewicz, Blood Bank school blood drive coordinator. "Throughout Mary Beth's tenure as school librarian and student council advisor, she has helped organize countless blood drives at the school and recruit hundreds of donors. As a result of her efforts, along with the tremendous support of students and school administration, thousands of patients have benefitted."

William Penn staff and students also submitted the most HERO cards in the 2009-2010 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.

Last school year, a total of 7,539 units of blood were collected at 125 school blood drives from September 2009 to May 2010, a near 10% increase 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.

The School Blood Drive Program provides 11% of the blood supply on Delmarva. The program started in 1984 with just 140 donations at two schools.

Newark, DE - Michael Waite, former on-air radio personality at WJBR, has been named Director of Marketing & Community Relations for Blood Bank of Delmarva.

Waite will serve as the organization's primary media spokesperson and will collaborate with executive management on strategic initiatives to improve organizational performance and enhance competitive positioning. He will execute growth strategies and manage community relations and all internal and external communications. Waite will also oversee a team of account executives and school blood drive coordinators in enhancing recruitment and retention of Blood Bank members and group sponsors.

Waite has significant media, marketing and management experience. He spent 40 years in the broadcast business, the last 17 years at WJBR-FM in Wilmington, Delaware. During his tenure at WJBR, Waite was General Manager, Program Director, Vice President of Operations, morning show host and afternoon show host.

Waite is the immediate past president of the board of the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, a former board member for the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, and a longtime member of Blood Bank of Delmarva.

Waite attended Butler University in Indiana. He and his wife of more than 30 years, Kathy, live in Wilmington, Delaware. They have two sons, Matthew and Jonathan.

Ocean City, MD - There were 666 registered blood donors and 583 pints of blood collected at the 13th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive at the Ocean City Convention Center on February 8 and 9. Each pint of donated blood can save up to 3 lives.

"There are hundreds of people to thank for their role in making this week's event a success. The turnout was phenomenal and, as a result, so many lives have been saved," said Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva.

The blood drive was established in 1999 to promote blood donation during the winter, a time when blood supplies traditionally dip as donors are kept away by colds and flu, bad weather and holiday travel. In its first year, the two-day event registered fewer than 300 donors. The 2010 drive had 784 registered donors and 691 pints of blood collected - a record high.

The Beach Blanket Blood Drive 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 t-shirts provided to donors.

After nearly two years, construction crews have completed the Christiana Donor Center expansion project. Two events were held to mark the occasion, including a Grand-Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on November 19 and an event called "Show-It-Off Sunday" on November 21 for staff, volunteers, board members and their families.

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Pregnancy complications almost took the life of Elisa Cottrell of Newark, Delaware, and her unborn daughter, Cason. Blood donors gave them both a second chance.

Just 29 weeks into her pregnancy, Elisa woke up severely hemorrhaging. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, Elisa had lost nearly half of her blood volume and her baby, Cason, was in serious jeopardy.

"Emergency blood transfusions and excellent medical care saved my life. My condition stabilized and I was able to delay delivering Cason for two additional months while I was on bed rest in the hospital," said Elisa. "However, little did I know that this would not be the last time that blood donors would come to my rescue."

Four weeks before Cason was full-term, Elisa started bleeding internally again. Doctors performed an emergency C-section and, although Cason was delivered healthy, Elisa needed another round of blood transfusions to survive.

"I nearly died on the day I became a mother. The thought of my husband, Duane, and Cason going home alone still haunts me to this day. This precious new baby, whom I had waited months to meet and only glimpsed briefly, needed a mother. I think it was this image that gave me strength and resolve in the operating room," said Elisa. "To say that the topic of blood donation is important to me is quite an understatement. This common and simple procedure saved my life, and it allowed me the privilege and joy of watching my daughter grow."

To help patients like Elisa and children like Cason, make an appointment to give blood. Call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE.