News Release April 25, 2005

Bonfils Blood Center Honors Supporters; Announces Special Award Winners

For more information contact:
Julie Wedding 303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

PUEBLO (April 25, 2005) - Bonfils Blood Center hosted its second annual southern Colorado appreciation reception Thursday, Apr. 21 for multi-gallon blood donors, marrow donor, volunteers, financial benefactors and community partners at the Pueblo Convention Center. The event included featured guest speaker, blood recipient and Pueblo community member, Lynn Spradley, who shared her story of how blood donors saved her life. Spradley was diagnosed with liver cancer in July 2003 and received a new liver that same month. Throughout her yearlong hospital stay, she required nearly 100 units of blood to keep her alive.

Special awards were presented to the following:

• Community Partner Award – Steve Sherlock, CEO, Colorado East Bank & Trust
  Colorado East Bank & Trust (CEB&T) has provided tremendous support to the Holly, Lamar, Springfield, and La Junta community blood drives. CEB&T promotes the blood drives in bank branches in and around blood drive communities on marquees outside of the bank and helps to provide food for the donors. A true community partner, the bank also provides additional advertising dollars to promote the blood drives.
• Outstanding College Blood Drive Award – Western State College
  Western State College has been a consistent supporter of the blood center having hosted blood drives for several years. Liaison Suzy Coykendall imparts the importance of blood donation to her students and staff through awareness and education. Staff and student enthusiasm is evident through their continued participation.
• Volunteer Blood Drive Liaison of the Year Award – Jim Jones, Wet Mountain Rotary of Westcliffe
  As a representative of the local Rotary Club, Jim Jones has shown his commitment to Bonfils by hosting bimonthly blood drives. Jones’ efforts have made a positive impact on the entire Westcliffe community.
• Youth Service Award – Kim Roesch, Lamar High School
  Kim Roesch has served as the Lamar High School blood drive liaison since May 2004. Roesch has supported all facets of hosting a successful blood drive and is an asset to the community and Bonfils Blood Center.
• Outstanding Blood Drive Growth – Fowler Community
  The generosity of the residents of Fowler resulted in a 215 percent increase in blood drive participation over the past 12 months. Bonfils is proud to recognize this accomplishment.
• Bonfils Blood Center Foundation Leadership Award – Stuart Marsh, M.D.
  Given in recognition of Marsh’s commitment to the foundation’s mission of raising charitable contributions for, and education the public about, Bonfils Blood Center’s work. Bonfils is pleased to honor Dr. Marsh’s exemplary and consistent support he has provided to the blood center as a member of its operating board or trustees.

An award was also presented to the Lamar community for continually hosting blood drives for the last 30 years.

Bonfils Blood Center supplies blood to more than 115 healthcare facilities and needs to collect 4,350 blood donations weekly to meet the needs of the community and to be prepared for any unexpected events. For information about scheduling a blood donation, please visit www.bonfils.org or call (800) 365-0006 option 2.