American Red Cross

Red Cross, 3M, Roush Fenway Racing partnering to boost blood donations

Council Bluffs, IA. (October 7, 2008) –   A new American Red Cross Blood Donation Center will open October 14, 2008 and Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan will serve as the honorary first donor at 11:00 am.  This site is in the new Loess Hills Chapter building located at 705 N. 16th Street in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Regular hours for this donation center will start October 20th and will be as follows:

• Every Monday from 12:30 – 6:30 pm
• Every Tuesday from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Every 4th Saturday of each month from 7:00 – 11:00 am

“We are proud to offer the community a convenient and constant location to donate blood for Southwest Iowa residents.  The need for blood is great and we encourage donors to make an appointment at our new facility as soon as possible,” said Loess Hills Chapter executive director, Rob Waterhouse.  Initially, the blood donation center will have four donor bays with the capacity to expand to thirteen bays in the future.

The American Red Cross has teamed up with 3M and Roush Fenway Racing to launch Red Cross Racing, a campaign to engage NASCAR fans as blood donors and to raise awareness about the ongoing need for blood. In celebration of the new Loess Hills Blood Donation Center opening on October 14th the Red Cross will be hosting a Red Cross Racing Party complete with free Red Cross Racing gear for presenting donors.

Race fans can visit www.redcrossracing.com to sign up for a new donor rewards program and accrue points to be exchanged for Red Cross Racing gear including items like caps, t-shirts, jackets and limited edition die-cast cars. Through the support of 3M and Roush Fenway, the campaign runs through January 15, 2009.

The No. 16 Ford Fusion car featured a full Red Cross paint scheme at the Talladega race and will again in Phoenix. Driver Greg Biffle, a Red Cross blood donor and member of the Celebrity Cabinet, will also wear a Red Cross fire suit at these races. The Red Cross logo will appear on the rear side panel of the No. 16 car in eight other races during the 2008 racing season.

“I’m proud to be an American Red Cross blood donor,” said Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 Roush Ford. “I gave blood because it’s easy to do and helps support our community. I hope NASCAR fans across the country will join me this racing season to help save lives, one drive at a time.”

The average blood donor gives less than two times a year. Eligible blood donors can donate whole blood every 56 days and can donate platelets up to 24 times a year.

The Red Cross is partnering with 3M to educate more than 75 million NASCAR fans about the ongoing need for blood donations. The Red Cross is already engaged with NASCAR through a partnership with Lowe’s Home Improvement, as well as the efforts of the NASCAR Foundation and the various race tracks that hold blood and bone marrow collections.

“We hope NASCAR fans will follow Greg Biffle’s lead and support the Red Cross by donating blood,” said Tricia Rubens, CEO of the Midwest Blood Services Region. “Red Cross Racing is a great opportunity for fans to become frequent blood donors.”

How to Donate Blood
Simply call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit www.givebloodgivelife.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors must be at least 16-years-old, with signed Red Cross parent/guardian consent, and must weigh at least 110 pounds.

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The Loess Hills Chapter, located in Council Bluffs, has been proudly serving the Southwest Iowa Region for almost ninety years.  This Chapter’s region includes: Pottawattamie, Mills, Fremont, Montgomery, Harrison, Crawford, Page and Shelby counties. Our chapter responds to an average of 45 fires each year, assisting approximately 50 families with basic recovery support services of food, clothing, and shelter, as well as, referrals to community agencies and crisis counseling.  In a year's time, approximately 4,000 units of blood are collected which yield around 11,700 different blood products!  We assist the Armed Forces Emergency Services by annually relaying more than 140 important messages to the military personnel from their families.   The Loess Hills Chapter also serves the local community by providing financial assistance to help families in crisis pay rent and utilities. And, we deliver Meals on Wheels to over 190 of the community's elderly neighbors, six days a week.