The Indiana-Ohio region of the American Red Cross recently honored LaPorte County’s Red Cross chapter, as well as numerous LaPorte County residents and businesses, for their service and commitment.
– The Outstanding Volunteer Service Award recognizes the countless Red Cross volunteers who serve the community at blood drives, donation centers and local Red Cross chapters. This year’s local honorees are Louise Gray, Helen Pizarek and Barb Taylor.
– The First Time Sponsor Award recognizes businesses, churches and community organizations that held their first American Red Cross blood drive during the last year or came back after an absence of three or more years. Local honorees are First Trust Credit Union and Walgreens in Michigan City.
– The Faithful Friend Award recognizes sponsors who have been loyal supporters of the American Red Cross. This year’s Faithful Friends agreed to have blood drives during inclement weather or holiday periods, secured volunteers to help provide excellent customer service and could be counted on to meet goals. Honorees are Purdue North Central, St. Anthony Health in Michigan City, St. John Kanty, and Westville Correctional Facility.
– The Growing by Leaps and Bounds Award recognizes blood drive sponsors who increased the units of blood donated at their blood drives by at least 25 percent or who increased the number of blood drives they hosted in the last year. Honorees are American Legion Post 295, American Licorice and Mill Creek Lions Club.
– The Lifesaver Award recognizes blood drive sponsors who were especially accommodating by replacing drives that had been canceled, hosting last-minute drives and demonstrating flexibility when Red Cross equipment or staffing issues required their mobile dates or times to be changed. Honoree is Prairie View Elementary School.
– The highlight of the event was the presentation of the American Red Cross Partnership Awards, which recognize the invaluable work of the chapters, hospitals and sponsors that support the Indiana-Ohio Region. Their active role and faithful support in the collection of blood products helped make this year a success. The chapters nominated for the Chapter Partnership Award offered exceptional support to Blood Services by ensuring that volunteers were present at blood drives to run registration, serve at canteen and arrange transportation.
Honorees are:
– American Red Cross of LaPorte County. Chapter Executive Bobbi Petru is very supportive of the ARC blood program. Bobbi coordinates volunteers at many LaPorte County blood drives. She is always willing to find volunteers to fill in for the blood drives which normally have their own volunteers. During chapter community functions, Bobbi puts on Buddy the Blood Drop suit and promotes local blood drives.
Bobbi is well known in the community and while doing chapter business and activities, she is routinely promoting blood drives and looking for sponsors to host drives. Whenever possible, she tries to incorporate a blood drive in a community event sponsored by the chapter.
The LaPorte County chapter is very active not only locally to assist those in need, but also where needed throughout the country. They provide education and training to local schools, businesses and the community. The blood side is always included, educating the public about blood products and the need for donors at blood drives.
The hospitals nominated for the Hospital Partnership Award helped ensure a safe and continuous blood supply by supporting blood collections, forming special partnerships with the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region and participating in professional development opportunities.
– IU Health LaPorte Hospital. Jennifer and Cathy promote the blood drive within the hospital by sending e-mail messages and displaying blood drive posters wherever they can be seen by employees and visitors. They also take the posters to the hospital’s satellite offices. Every presenting donor is given a lunch coupon. Blood Bank Coordinator Jennifer is very enthusiastic and eager to do whatever she can to make the blood drives successful. Local education events sponsored by the Indiana-Ohio Region are well attended by IU Health LaPorte Hospital representatives. With new bloodbank leadership, IU Health LaPorte Hospital participates in the inventory restock program, and maintains adequate blood product standing orders to ensure patient transfusion needs are being met.
The Red Cross thanks these honorees and the entire community for their support of blood donation.
