Each donation earns you points that over time can be redeemed for items at The Blood Center's High-5 Online Store. To earn points faster, look for special double point days, when each donation earns double the points listed below (Not applicable for deferral points).

Each blood donation, 250 pts
Each ALYX donation, 500 pts (2 units of red blood cells are removed)
Each platelet donation, 250 pts
Each double platelet donation, 500 pts
Attempt to donate, but deferred, 100 pts (given once per deferral period)
Increasing level status, 100 pts (ex. Level 1 partner becomes Level 2 partner by donating one extra time in a calendar year.)

It is a partnership between you and The Blood Center of Central Texas committed to saving lives through quarterly blood donation.

The program kicked off September 1, 2006. The first cycle lasts 4 months and ends December 31, 2006. From that point forward, the Life is in Your Hands program will be based on a calendar year.

You hold the key to the program with your willingness to save lives through quarterly blood donations. With your first donation you become a Level 1 partner and already start to receive some benefits. The second time you donate in a calendar year you will achieve Level 2 status. As you achieve higher status levels (2, 3, and 4), your benefits increase (see individual program benefits). Benefits include a subscription to our annual newsletter, recognition on our Web site, a wellness check, access to our new High-5 Online Store, and invitations to an annual recognition celebration.

Level	# of donations per year
Level 1	1 donation/calendar year
Level 2	2 donations/calendar year
Level 3	3 donations/calendar year
Level 4	4 donations/calendar year

Yes, whatever level you obtain the previous calendar year carries over into the next. All donors begin the program at a level based on the number of donations made in the previous year. To reach Level 4 status, donate at least once a quarter.

Every donation earns you points which can be redeemed for cool merchandise in the High-5 Online Store including denim, polo, or t-shirts, backpacks, duffle bags, beach chairs, and watches to name a few (see Points).

1. Donate once a quarter
   We’re asking you to donate blood once a quarter to save lives. Each blood donation can save up to two lives. Donate four times a year and you can save up to eight lives!
2. Allow us to contact you
   We would like to occasionally contact you to say thanks and let you know how your donations are saving lives. We’ll even schedule your next appointment.
3. Spread the word
   Talk to friends, family, and co-workers. Get them involved in saving lives. Nothing is more powerful than hearing first hand from someone who saves lives by donating blood.

Blood saves lives and the demand for it in our community increases as our population grows and ages. The amount of blood our community needs varies constantly due to unpredictable factors. On any day, in any month, in any year, the community blood supply can be depleted in a few hours:

by people in car accidents

by people receiving chemotherapy

by people undergoing surgery
There is no substitute for blood. It has to come from one person in order to be given to another.

You can become a Hands of the Donor partner by visiting one of our donor centers or at a workplace or community blood drive. You can sign up online by visiting www.inyourhands.org or you can complete a registration form when you donate. With your help, we can ensure that our community has an abundant blood supply available whenever people need it.

Currently, only blood donors may sign-up as a Hands of the Donor partner.

Currently, only blood donors may sign-up as a Hands of the Donor partner.

At this time, registration is limited to blood donors. Because our volunteers are important, we will have a separate volunteer program developed. You may get additional information by referencing our website.

My Handprint is a benefit and service that we now offer our donors to help them keep track of their donations and eligibility dates. It’s also the way that you access some of your Hands of the Donor program benefits such as shopping in the High-5 Online Store and online scheduling.

You may get your health information or blood type by contacting the Nurse Manager at (512) 206-1108 or e-mail your questions to donorsuitability@tcms.com.

Donors will need to register personally but part of fulfilling your promises as a Hands of the Donor partner involves encouraging others to donate. Think of the additional lives you may help save!

The sooner you sign up, the sooner you will start earning points to redeem at our new High-5 Online Store.

It takes about a week for us to enter donation points. If in seven days, your points are not available, please call us and let us know.

There are different benefit levels to encourage everyone to give blood at least once a quarter. With more donors committed to giving blood, we will have an ample blood supply all year long for Central Texans in need.

Level 4 - Donate At Least Once Every Three Months
It is important to understand that each donation may save as many as two lives. Donating once every three months may save as many as eight lives annually. People’s lives are in your hands when you donate blood.

Eight Lives Saved
Each whole blood donation is separated into two components: plasma and red blood cells. Each one of these lifesaving components could go to a different person in need. You could save two lives every quarter, or eight lives a year!

Level 3 - Donate Once Every Four Months
Donating once e very four months may save as many as six lives annually. People’s lives are in your hands when you donate blood.

Six Lives Saved
Each whole blood donation is separated into two components: plasma and red blood cells. Each one of these lifesaving components could go to a different person in need. You could save two lives every four months, or six lives a year!)

Level 2 - Donate Once Every Six Months
Each donation may save as many as two lives. Donating once every six months may save as many as four lives. People’s lives are in your hands when you donate blood.

Four Lives Saved
Each whole blood donation is separated into two components: plasma and red blood cells. Each one of these lifesaving components could go to a different person in need. You could save two lives every six months, or four lives a year!

Level 1 - Donate Once Every 12 Months
Each donation may save as many as two lives. Donating once every 12 months may save as many as two lives. People’s lives are in your hands when you donate blood.

Two Lives Saved
Each whole blood donation is separated into two components: plasma and red blood cells. Each one of these lifesaving components could go to a different person in need. So you could save two lives a year!

Click here for a full list of benefits.

It will be mailed to you approximately 2 weeks after your first donation.

Hands of the Donor partners will start earning points for donations on September 15, 2006.

You may view the items available by following these instructions:

a. Go to www.inyourhands.org
b. Click on Personal Donation Info
c. Enter your log in information
d. Click on “High-5 Online Store”

When you are ready to go shopping, or if you want to go right to the store, go to My Handprint, sign-in and follow the links.

Yes. The donation you make on the day you enroll counts.

We will soon have a brochure available and will be happy to send it to you, or you may call 512-206-1266.

By participating in the Hands of the Donor program, you have granted The Blood Center of Central Texas permission to use your name in any of The Blood Center’s Recognition Programs. These programs are generated with the intention of thanking you and encouraging others to become volunteer donors. Should you wish to not participate in these forms of recognition, you may opt out by calling us or visiting My Handprint at www.inyourhands.org.

Because the Hands of the Donor program began September 15, 2006, you will receive points for donations that you make with us from that date forward, provided you have registered as a Hands of the Donor partner.

We appreciate your support of other blood centers’ efforts to save lives. If you can provide us with the number of donations that you’ve made, we will keep track of that information. However, you will only receive points for donations that you make with The Blood Center and will be assigned a benefit level based upon the number of those made after signing up as a Hands of the Donor program.

Each donation attempt is worth 100 points so long as we have a record that you tried to donate. If you are deferred, you will receive 100 points just for trying and we will let you know how soon you may return and try again. However, if you come back before the end of your deferral period, you will not receive points for that visit. You will resume earning points for donations or attempted donations once your deferral period is over.

These points are one way that we thank you for saving lives by donating blood. You will not be able to transfer them to another person. We appreciate that you might not wish to use them for yourself and if you so choose, you may credit them to The Blood Center.

Points will be redeemable for the duration of the Life is in Your Hands program.

Yes. You may credit the points back to The Blood Center of Central Texas. Just go the High-5 Online Store and select that option.

One successful Alyx procedure will earn you 500 points and will count as two donations toward determining your benefit level. As you know Alyx donors are deferred for 112 days – double the number of days for a whole blood donation.

Each successful platelet procedure will earn you 250 points and will count as one donation toward determining your benefit level.

The group program is being developed and is scheduled to roll out in the first quarter of 2007.