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Shelby spirit leads
to National Blood Drive Award
SIDNEY, Ohio - Giving blood to help neighbors in need is a common cause
in Shelby County that has now earned national recognition.
America’s Blood Centers has honored the Shelby County Donor Community
with the Award of Excellence for “Most Productive Blood Drive” of 2014.
Community Blood Center (CBC) presented the etched glass trophy to the
Shelby County Commissioners Tuesday, May 26 at the AMVETS blood drive
in Sidney. CBC Shelby County Account Representative Kathy Pleiman
accepted the award on behalf of the Shelby County Donor Community at
the 18th Annual America’s Blood Centers Awards of Excellence ceremony
March 23 in Pentagon City, Virginia. It marked the third
consecutive year a CBC blood drive sponsor has won the Most Productive
Blood Drive award.
Past CBC award winners include LexisNexis (2012) and Midmark
Corporation (2013). For 2014 CBC took the unconventional approach
of nominating the entire donor community for the award. Shelby
County ranks only 9th in population in the CBC service area, but is
third in total number of registered donors. Among the population
eligible by age to donate, one out of four people are blood donors.
“I consider it a privilege to represent this area and all the donors,
sponsors and umpteen volunteers,” said Kathy. “For the largest of
drives it takes a small village of volunteers. It’s a very giving
community and that drives us to success.”
Shelby County community blood drives are interconnected in a way that
maximizes county-wide whole blood and apheresis collection goals. There
are eight established rotations, developed on a master calendar with
consistent dates and locations.
During the 2014 nomination period Shelby County hosted 125 blood drives
with 7,884 registrations to donate, 704 first-time donors, and 6,944
units donated for an average of 106 percent of the collection goal.
Giving blood is a common bond. Among the population eligible by
age to donate, 24.3 percent – one out of four - are blood donors.
That is the highest percentage in the CBC service area.
“Shelby County has been known to be a giving community and the blood
drive is a perfect way to show they care around the entire community,”
said Shelby County Commission Chairman Bob Guillozet, who is a
dedicated platelet donor at county blood drives with 176 lifetime
donations. “What a fitting tribute to Shelby County to receive this
award.”
Commissioner Julie Ehemann credited the community’s “I can help”
spirit. Fellow commissioner Tony Bornhorst agreed. “It’s ‘We can
do this,’” he said. “Neighbors jump in to help out.”
It was a fitting that Tuesday’s AMVETS blood drive was CBC’s busiest of
the day with 58 donors and 46 donations for 92 percent of goal.
“It’s really amazing,” said Ray Bornhorst, who made his 88th lifetime
donation Tuesday and was seated at the Donor Café with his wife Doris
who had just made her 101st donation. “It’s a lot more country people.
We’re a smaller community and we’re willing to help each other.”
“We’re concerned with other people,” said Doris. “And you never know
when you will need it.”
Sidney’s John Blackford made his milestone 100th lifetime donation at
Tuesday’s blood drive. He said he was not surprised by the award,
but struggled to explain what made the Shelby County Donor Community
unique. “It’s hard to describe,” he said. “It’s kind of the country way
of living. If I could put my finger on it I’d let you know!”
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