Four 10-year olds ask for contributions to The Blood Center instead of presents
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L-R: Colista, Alexa, and Eliza*
*Ruth not pictured |
The Blood Center of Central Texas relies on the support of community members to provide necessary educational and outreach programs to grow the number of blood donations each year. Four 10-year-olds put new meaning to The Center’s anthem of Life is in your hands.
Eliza, Alexa, Colista, and Ruth each have a birthday in May. This year, for their 10th birthdays, the four friends celebrated together and asked for financial contributions in lieu of presents. Instead of buying a gift for each birthday girl, attendees donated $180 to The Blood Center.
These fourth graders understand the importance of blood donation and all plan to donate blood when they are old enough. Colista’s uncle was in a helicopter accident and now when her mother donates blood, she shares her cookies with her daughter. Eliza and Alexa say, “It is better to think of other people and not just yourself.” Each hopes to continue helping others – Colista wants to be a nanny or kindergarten teacher, Eliza wants to be a dolphin trainer (or a professional soccer player), and Alexa hopes to be a veterinarian or a writer of stories.
A very special thanks to our young contributors! These little ladies really do understand that Life is in their hands.
Congratulations to the two Friends for Life laptop winners!
Friends for Life is a summer blood donation initiative encouraging individuals who donate blood during the school year at high schools to also give blood during the summer. Two high school seniors saved lives and won a laptop with their donations!
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Stephanie, a high school senior at Anderson High, donated blood this summer during The Blood Center's Friends for Life extravaganza. Encompassing mulitiple drives over the summer months, Friends for Life mobile drives collected valuable blood donations which often wane in the summer months.
Stephanie donated blood at Dave & Buster's - she saved two lives AND won a laptop. She is on the swim team and plans to attend college in the D.C. area following graduation in May.
Stephanie is pictured at Anderson High School with Leslie Bailey, the Get a Grip Account Executive who coordinated high school blood drives. For more information, check out the Get a Grip high school drive website by clicking here. |
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Tracy, a high school senior at McNeil High, saved two lives when she donated blood at Austin Park and Pizza. She learned about blood donation at school and was ready to donate before she was 17!
Tracy is very excited about her new laptop - the night before she was notified that her name was selected, she had been shopping for a laptop online! Tracy plans to attend ACC next year and major in Sign Language and minor in Child Development. When asked why she donates blood, Tracy says, "It seemed like the right thing to do. I love helping people."
Tracy is pictured at McNeil High School with Leslie Bailey, the Get a Grip Account Executive who coordinated high school blood drives. For more information, check out the Get a Grip high school drive website by clicking here. |
Lone Star Circle of Life Bike Tour Arrived in Austin
Cyclists in the 2008 Lone Star Circle of Life Bike Tour took to the Texas roadways on September 13 in Houston. They stopped in Austin on the seventh day and ended the tour this year in San Antonio. The Bike Tour raised awareness for the need of all life-saving donations – blood, bone marrow, tissue, eyes and organs. Each rider had a personal interest in life-saving donations and has either been a recipient, a donor, or had someone in their life donate or receive a transfusion or a transplant.
Congratulations to the two Southwest Airlines Gift Card winners!
At The Blood Center, Summer Means Saving Lives…and great prizes! Jessica Birge and Rusty Freedman saved lives and won a Southwest Airlines gift card when they donated at a mobile blood drive this summer.
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Rusty understands that life is in his hands and has been a blood donor for two years. He believes that all citizens should help each other when in need and blood donation is one way that Rusty contributes. While there is no fixed Community Blood Center in his area, Rusty donates blood regularly at La Grange Community Blood Drives. He says he “absolutely” appreciates that The Blood Center is able to reach out into his neighborhood and give him the opportunity to save lives. Where is he going with his SWA gift card? Las Vegas! |
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As the new Sales and Marketing Director with Seale CPA & Company, Jessica selects a monthly community event that all of her coworkers can participate in together. When the Women’s Chamber of Commerce held a replacement blood drive, Jessica gathered her fellow employees and saved lives by donating blood. She brought FIVE first time donors with her! Where is Jessica going with her SWA gift card? Skiing in Taos! |
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