News Release January 03, 2008

Contact:
Julie Scott

303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

Bonfils Blood Center to Honor Blood Donors, Volunteers and Community Partners

DENVER (Jan. 3, 2008) – The heroic acts of thousands of Coloradans will be recognized with an appreciation reception Thursday, Jan. 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Bonfils Blood Center pauses, during National Blood Donor Month, to honor the life-saving work of this region’s generous blood donors, financial benefactors, volunteers and partners. The ongoing care and commitment of these individuals continues to strengthen our community while at the same time benefiting patients in need of blood transfusions.

Donors and volunteers will also hear from Bob Ewegen, blood donor and deputy editorial page editor for The Denver Post, who will thank fellow Bonfils donors for making a positive impact on our community.

“We'd all jump into an irrigation canal to save a drowning child but you can’t schedule such heroic gestures and they do tend to get your clothes muddy. We can achieve the same results in a much more efficient manner by donating blood – and avoid the dry cleaning bills in the process,” says Ewegen of blood donation.

The accomplishments of more than 1,300 blood donors who reached donation milestones of 10 gallons or more in 2007 will be acknowledged. Bonfils will also honor its blood drive hosts, liaisons and volunteers along with financial contributors and community partners that have provided leadership, time, energy and monetary gifts over the past year.

Seven special awards will be given to those who have shown exemplary commitment to the mission and vision of Bonfils Blood Center:

Dr. Ben Galloway Community Partner Award– Presented to Tom Markham, executive director of the Lowry Redevelopment Authority. Markham, a platelet donor, has demonstrated exemplary commitment to Bonfils Blood Center by helping it become one of the first redevelopment projects in the Lowry community. His tenacity resulted in a transfer of a portion of Air Force property to Bonfils at no cost.
Foundation Leadership Award – Presented to Joy and Christopher Dinsdale for their philanthropic support for Bonfils’ Sterling Community Donor Center and commitment to increasing blood donations across the northeastern Colorado region.
Outstanding Blood DriveGrowth Award – Presented to Kaiser Permanente’s Arapahoe Medical Offices for nearly tripling the amount of units collected from 2006 to 2007 after doubling the number of blood drives hosted. The group also successfully promotes the importance of Bonfils’ life-saving work to its employees.
Outstanding College Blood Drive Award – Presented to the University of Colorado at Boulder. The university has hosted blood drives with Bonfils since 1973. During the five blood drives hosted in 2007, the university collected an astonishing 2,000 units of blood with nearly 750 donors making their first blood donation.
Volunteer Liaison of the Year Award– Presented to Loretta Blessinger for her commitment to saving and enhancing lives through the coordination of the Dex, an R.H. Donnelley Company blood drive which collected 300 units of blood at five blood drives in 2007.
Volunteer of the Year Award – Presented to Keith Juszczyk, along with his father Tim. The pair, typically the last to leave Drive for Life, give their time to help staff clean up the stadium by removing orange and blue directional feet that line the stadium floor – a task very much appreciated by Bonfils Blood Center.
Outstanding Youth Service Award – Presented to Diego Granados who has served as the blood drive liaison at Wheat Ridge High School for two years inspiring his fellow students to donate more than 400 units of blood in 2007.

In addition to these special awards, Bonfils will honor the legacy of Bertha J. Davidson. Bonfils

Blood Center Foundation was fortunate to be one of the Colorado charities selected to benefit from the estate of Ms. Davidson. Her commitment to the community began long before her passing in 2006 and that same commitment will continue for years to come thanks to her generous donation to the blood center.

Bonfils Blood Center celebrates 65 years of saving lives through its ongoing stewardship of the community blood supply and the instrumental role it continues to play in the lives of patients in need throughout Colorado and beyond. Bonfils Blood Center supplies blood to more than 200 healthcare facilities and needs to collect more than 4,000 blood donations weekly to meet the needs of the community and to be prepared for any unexpected events. For information about Bonfils Blood Center please call 303.366.2000 or visit www.bonfils.org.