Media Contact: Sam Flynn
Community Outreach Liaison
Samatha.Flynn@innovativeblood.org
(651) 332-7219
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2017 (Duluth, MN) – Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) is pleased to recognize top supporters and advocates of blood donation at today’s annual Northland Appreciation Luncheon. Nearly 100% of the blood used by hospital patients in the Northland is donated by Northland blood donors with MBC. Sponsors, blood donors, and volunteers were recognized at the luncheon held at Spirit Mountain.
The top 10 blood drive sponsors from 2016 are:
•University of Minnesota-Duluth (Housing & Residential Life and Kirby Student Center)
•White Community Hospital Foundation
•St. Louis County
•Enbridge
•Essentia Health
•Pine City Community
•UnitedHealthcare
•College of St. Scholastica
•Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
•Hayward Area Memorial Hospital
Additional Northland blood drive sponsor organizations recognized as part of MBC’s “100 Club”—or organizations that collected more than 100 units in 2016—include:
•USG
•Minnesota Power
•Minnesota Air National Guard 148th Fighter Wing
•St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
•Grand Casino
•Anderson Fabrics & Blackduck Community
•Rainy Lake Medical Center
•Grand Rapids ElderCircle
•AAR
•Sandstone Area Businesses (supported by Chris’ Food Center)
•St. Luke’s
•BMO Harris Bank
•LHB
•Moose Lake Correctional Facility
•Community Memorial Hospital
•Environmental Protection Agency
•VFW Ladies Auxiliary – International Falls
•Lake Superior College
•ArcelorMittal Minorca Mine
•Askov Community (supported by 23 Hardware & Lumber)
•Sappi
•Itasca Community College
MBC also recognized community partners whose work contributes to MBC’s ability to support hospital patients in the Northland. These include:
•Famous Dave’s, which received the Community Partner Award for the donation of food to KBJR-6 blood drives. These drives are typically hosted during summer and winter months when there is a greater need for blood donors.
•Life Link III, which received the Lifesaving Partner Award for their dedication to saving lives, and for their commitment to carrying two units of O negative blood—the universal donor type—donated by MBC blood donors on all of their air ambulances.
•Jan Moore, who received the Coordinator of the Year award for recruiting an average of 55 units of blood at each blood drive she coordinates.
•Ruthanne Schelinder, who received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her many hours of life-saving time generously gifted to MBC. Jan both coordinates blood drives at her church, and transports donated blood from the donor center in Virginia to MBC’s Duluth center. She has made the trip 364 times, and has driven over 45,000 miles.
The collaborative efforts of supporters in the Northland community to recruit blood donors, donate blood, and share their stories help maintain a stable blood supply. Each and every day, blood donors help save lives in local hospitals. To learn more or schedule an appointment to donate blood visit MBC.ORG, or to host a blood drive at your workplace, church, business, school, community organization etc. please contact Michele Keil at 218 740-1541 or Katie Reynolds at 218-740-1542.
About Memorial Blood Centers
Memorial Blood Centers has been saving lives for over 65 years as an independent nonprofit supplying life-saving blood to area hospitals and other partners throughout the U.S. Operating 10 donor centers and conducting hundreds of blood drives each month, Memorial Blood Centers also provides comprehensive testing and expert technical services as a national leader in transfusion medicine. For more information, call 1-888-GIVE-BLD (1-888 448-3253) or visit MBC.ORG. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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